Restaurant Expert Witness Takeaways on Food Issues and Nut Lawsuits

Certain news about lawsuits from a restaurant expert witness perspective should be a wakeup call to check your food purchasing and handling practices from time to time as it concerns nut allergies. In particular, are those issues that surround recipes and dishes that contain peanuts that may be a cause for severe allergy reactions or food poisoning involving a customer at your foodservice business. In one case reported in the Midwest, the issues involve food that was prepared allegedly using peanut oil after the restaurant was notified. “The suit claims the teacher told a restaurant employee the food was for a class party and students in the class had peanut allergies and the restaurant agreed to provide food that was free of peanut oils, peanut derivatives and peanut flavorings.” Owners, legal professionals and their restaurant expert witness can read more details of the lawsuit here. The second case involves peanut butter that contributed to salmonella food poisoning in several states that was filed several years ago. The primary point from a food safety management standpoint and as reported here is that “The contamination of peanut butter at nursing homes, hospitals and schools posed a particular health risk, since elderly, children and those with a weak immune system are at an increase risk for salmonella food poisoning, which could result in hospitalization or potentially be fatal.” The takeaways are that food handling procedures regarding the use of nuts, especially peanuts, deserve some attention. This is also because customers believe your operation to be the restaurant operations expert when it comes to preparing and serving food. For example, a restaurant should consider asking itself: a) Is it clear on your menus that dishes that contain nuts are clearly explained? b) Are staff trained to avoid using products that contain nuts in dishes that customers expect none are present? c) Does the food buyer watch certain news reports to stay current about what products have been contaminated and should not be purchased? Have other takeaways to share with our readers as an owner, operator or restaurant expert witness? We welcome posting those comments and suggestions below.