Food Allergy Lawsuits: Four Tips for Reducing Risk

The liability risks associated with guest food allergies should be a top priority for restaurateurs.

In May, the owner of an Indian restaurant in London was convicted of manslaughter after serving peanut-containing chicken masala to a guest who had warned of his severe peanut allergy. The six-year sentence marked the first time a British court had meted out such a serious penalty in a food allergy case. Back in the United States, meanwhile, the parents of a girl with a life-threatening peanut allergy sued Panera after their daughter received a grilled-cheese sandwich that allegedly contained up to two tablespoons of peanut butter. The girl survived going into anaphylactic shock, but her parents, who filed the suit in June, made national news by accusing Panera of “intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress,” as well as assault and battery.

Research shows that food allergies are increasing in prevalence and severity.

These days, most of us know someone whose child…