Published on 12, July, 2020
I saw a report from a coronors court on the news yesterday about an inquest on a 13 year girl who had died after being given a dairy milk hot chocolate instead of the soya one she'd asked for, she was seriously ill within minutes of having one mouthful and dead not long after. This drink was served in a franchise branch of a well known hight street coffee shop, who said that the training and awareness of allergies hadn't been followed in this case and they agreed with the coroners findings.
How long before people take allergies seriously? I think the owners and staff who served the young woman should be prosecuted for negligence manslaughter as I fear its the only way that allergies will be taken seriously. It's not a laugh, or a joke and it definately does matter when you're given something you're allergic too. So many people think allergy suferers are fussy, lying and attention seeking and if you don't tell them you've given them an allergen they won't know.
I wonder how many people at best spend the day itching or in the toilet because of being given an allergen by someone who's to arrogant to care, or end up in hospital, let alone the mortuary?
I think we really need a public awareness campaign about how serious allergies can be.
I agree, some people have absolutely disgusting attitudes to allergies. I’ve seen some awful comments left on social media posts. I also think a teen boy died at school a few years back because bullies threw cheese at him at lunchtime. Thankfully my allergies aren’t life threatening but I do get extremely uncomfortable symptoms. In this particular case I can’t see there being any legal action taken as hot chocolate with non dairy milk is marked as ‘may contain milk’ in the allergy guide on the chains website but that should’ve been communicated which I think the barista said they did, but I find some coffee shops so loud when they’re using blenders and steaming the milk.