A teen nut allergy sufferer ended up in hospital on her 18th birthday after eating a curry from a Tyneside takeaway.
Eleanor Lincoln went into anaphylactic shock after tucking into the chicken tikka masala, from Khan's restaurant in Heaton, Newcastle, last March.
Eleanor was treated with an Epi pen by her mum Bridie before being taken to hospital by ambulance.
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Doctors at the Royal Victoria Infirmary had to give Eleanor, who was struggling to breathe, steroids. She was kept in hospital overnight for observation but discharged the next day.
And now, after a worker at the restaurant was fined over the breach of food hygiene regulations, Eleanor's mum has told how she almost lost her precious daughter.
Bridie Lincoln, 51, said: "I couldn't believe what was happening. This was the first time she's had a severe reaction. It was like being trapped in a nightmare. She could have died over something so simple. But it just wasn't her day to die."
With Eleanor's milestone birthday coming as the country remained under Covid lockdown restrictions, her family decided to plan a celebration at home.
"It was her 18th birthday and it was full lockdown so we tried to make it as special as we could. We had balloons and Champagne and we all got dressed up," said Bridie.
It was the first time the family had used Khan's Restaurant as their usual takeaway was closed.
Bridie said they placed their order via an app and specifically asked for no peanuts. But not long after her first bite Eleanor, whose peanut allergy was diagnosed when she was six, realised something was not right."
Eleanor served herself, and straight away she said; 'Mum I think it's got peanuts in it'.'
"She said she could feel her lips tingling."
As Eleanor's lips and tongue began to swell Bridie administered the Epi-pen and phoned an ambulance.
Eleanor was sick, and her mum believes this could have been what saved her life as she was able to get some of the allergen out of her body.
"If Eleanor hadn't of been sick she would have died," said Bridie.
Newcastle City Council’s Environmental Health Team launched an investigation after the incident.
They found that when the order was made the family specifically asked for no peanuts, but staff missed the crucial information. And peanut and almond protein were found in the meal.
Food business operator, Samir Najeeb, of Khan’s Restaurant, was charged with two breaches one under the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations and one under the Food Safety Act. He pleaded not guilty to both charges but was found guilty of the Food Hygiene Regulations charge.
He was fined £450 with £3,000 in costs at Newcastle Magistrates Court.
The charge under the Food Safety Act was dismissed by the court.
Eleanor has now fully recovered from her ordeal and is studying physics and astrophysics at University in Manchester.
And Bridie now hopes her daughter's near miss will serve as a life-saving warning.
"You have got to check the ingredients in everything," she said. "For 12 years after Eleanor was diagnosed we have never had any problems.
"I want to highlight that this can happen even when you ask for a peanut-free meal. You just can't be complacent. Ingredients can change and staff can change."
Bridie is now urging all allergy sufferers to follow-up online food orders with a phone call to make sure their requirements have been received and understood.
She would also restaurants to think twice about using potentially harmful ingredients in dishes where they are not necessary.
Coun Irim Ali, who has responsibility for regulation on the city council, said: “People have died from food allergies and contaminated food from takeaways and restaurants. I can’t emphasise enough the seriousness of this case. Thankfully Eleanor is fit and well now.
“The case highlights the need for very strict management of food orders and great care needed when serving food. There is no room for complacency or error.
“The public must be confident that businesses are safe and take no risk with their safety. We are committed to supporting businesses with training and help but will hold those to account that put lives at risk.”
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