Durham restaurant fined £22,000 after customer’s food allergy ordeal
Written by Kaitlyn Ashby on 4th October 2024
A magistrates’ court sign.
A Durham city centre restaurant has been fined £22,000, after being found guilty of serving allergen-contaminated food which put a customer in hospital with a life-threatening reaction.
Durham County Council (DCC) prosecuted popular Lebanese restaurant Lebaneat for failing to comply with food safety laws, after an investigation by its environmental health officers.
A customer dining at Lebeneat told waiting staff they were allergic to nuts and sesame, and asked for an allergen-free chicken shawarma.
However, shortly after starting their meal, they suffered life-threatening anaphylaxis and were rushed to hospital for urgent medical care.
DCC investigators at Lebeneat’s premises found there were no separate utensils for allergen-free foods, correct allergen procedures were not followed, there was no specific member of staff checking allergen precautions were taking place, and staff were not trained in allergen procedures.
Samples of the restaurant’s chicken shawarma were taken from the same batch as the customer’s meal; the branch manager, chef and a waiter were interviewed under caution; and CCTV was reviewed ahead of the case being taken to Peterlee Magistrates’ Court.
Officers also inspected the company’s food preparation unit at Meadowfield.
Ian Harrison, a DCC business compliance manager, told the Northern Echo: “Contamination of allergens in food is a serious health risk.
“Failing to follow the right procedures to protect customers can result in not only them becoming seriously ill and needing hospital treatment, but can also put customers’ lives at risk.”
The owners of Lebeneat, Adam & Amin LT, were found guilty of failing to ensure that all stages of production, processing and distribution of food were protected against contamination of allergens which could cause injuries to health.
They were fined £22,000 and ordered to pay £5,984 costs, and a £190 victim surcharge – a total of £28,174.
Mr Harrison said: “The severity of the fine reflects just how serious we and the court take this matter and how significant the outcome could have been for this customer.
