The owner of a takeaway restaurant in Cleator Moor has been fined £600 for serving a customer a meal containing peanut, when a nut-free meal was requested.
Abdul Hai, who has run the Spice House at 81 High Street, Cleator Moor, for eight years was fined £600 and ordered to pay £500 as a contribution to costs and a £60 victim surcharge at Workington Magistrates Court on Friday.
He pleaded guilty to selling unsafe food and having no food traceability systems in place.
On September 5 2019, a chicken tikka masala was ordered from the takeaway, which had to be nut-free, and this was confirmed on collection.
On analysis the meal was found to contain peanut at a dangerous level to those suffering allergenic reactions to peanuts.
Mr Hai was informed of the results of analysis and told not to serve those suffering from peanut allergies until he could be sure nut-free meals were guaranteed not to have any traces of nuts.
On December 5 2019 Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards officers took a follow-up sample of the takeaway’s nut-free chicken tikka masala.
The meal was sent away for analysis, and again was found to contain peanut at significant levels.
The public analyst confirmed that there was a sufficient amount of peanut in the chicken tikka masala to present a real hazard to anyone suffering from a nut allergy.
Councillor Celia Tibble, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for Trading Standards, said: “It is vitally important that food outlets understand food allergies and the importance of preventing any cross-contamination occurring in their kitchens.
“To those who suffer from a peanut allergy, even a tiny amount of peanut protein contained within food can have devastating consequences.”
