A North East takeaway boss has been fined after a boy with a peanut allergy was rushed to hospital when he suffered a severe reaction.

He spent 12 hours in hospital in March 2021 where it was diagnosed that he had suffered from an anaphylaxis shock.

When ordering the meal from Concord Tandoori, in Victoria Road, Washington, the boy’s family had been assured by staff that there were no peanuts in the takeaway’s chicken tikka masala curry.

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Contacting the takeaway while the boy was in hospital, they received similar assurances that there were no peanuts in the kitchen or in the curry’s ingredients.

South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard how after the incident the family, who kept their home peanut free because of the allergens, lodged a complaint with Environmental Health officers at Sunderland City Council.

At court, Sadik Miah, of Lycott, Washington, admitted supplying food which was unsafe because it contained an allergen, contrary to the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013.

As owner, he was fined £2,532 and ordered to pay £1,804 of costs. The court heard how council officers had visited the premises but Mr Miah had poor knowledge of allergens and could provide no evidence that staff had had any formal food and allergen training.

During an inspection of the premises, Mr Miah produced a box of ground peanuts and of cashew nuts. A container of ground peanuts was also next to the stove which increased the chances of cross contamination.

The kitchen area had poor food storage conditions with raw meat being kept next to cooked food, cracked tiles, no effective sanitiser for hand washing, and food debris on the floor.

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Evidence of a rat and ant infestation around the fridge was also found. Officers served an improvement notice on the business and the owners agreed to close it for a deep clean.

The court heard how when the meal purchased at the takeaway had been analysed, the quantity of peanut found in the meal suggested it was used as an ingredient rather than contamination.

Deputy Leader of Sunderland City Council and Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Claire Rowntree said: "Food allergies can have potentially fatal consequences. Because of this, it is absolutely essential that all businesses follow the regulations that are there to protect their customers.

"Neither is it acceptable for food businesses to have unhygienic and dirty conditions in their storage and working areas."

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