Managers of a Takeaway Imprisoned For Allergy Death

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Wednesday 7th November 2018

The owner and manager of a takeaway in Lancashire have been imprisoned for a combined five years for manslaughter after it was found they caused a teenage girl’s death.

They were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court over the death of 15 year old Megan Lee, who suffered an acute allergic reaction and died two days later in hospital.

The defendants, Harun Rashid and Mohammed Abdul Kuddus, were jailed for three years and two years, respectively, after admitting to two health and safety charges against themselves and the Royal Spice takeaway in Oswaldtwistle but denying a charge of manslaughter.

Megan had ordered her meal and highlighted her nut and prawn allergies when she had ordered, however her meal was found to have a “widespread presence” of peanut traces, which caused her acute asthma attack, irreversible brain damage and death after being admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Mrs Justice Yip, presiding over sentencing, noted that whilst Megan highlighted her allergies and showed responsibility over her condition, Royal Spice did not do the same, and also noted they did not have any allergen control systems or processes in place. She concluded that she hoped that food suppliers realise that if a death happens there will be significant sentences imposed.

Similarly, Megan’s father Adam warned people who ran restaurants to not “play Russian Roulette” with people’s lives.