Wearside restaurant fined after serving milky cappuccinos as dairy free
“Consumers have a right to expect that the food they eat and drink is safe”
A restaurant that twice sold cappuccinos as dairy-free, even though they contained milk, which could have triggered a serious allergic reaction, has been ordered to pay more than £8,000.
Isla on North Road in Durham City sold the coffees to trading officers from Durham County Council on two occasions. Despite supposedly being dairy-free they would have caused a reaction in someone with a milk allergy.
The business has now been convicted of supplying produce that was unsafe, following prosecution by the Council.
Mark Anslow, health and environmental protection manager at Durham County Council, said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this case.
“Members of the public suffering from food allergies should be able to purchase food and drink with confidence, without the risk of being made seriously ill or, in the worst cases, suffering life-threatening consequences due to incorrect allergen information.
“Isla, and the company it is part of, has a good history and hygiene rating and had acted on advice following the first failure, to put in place controls to help protect customers.
“Unfortunately, these were not fully implemented, and the second incident arose that could have been serious for anyone with a milk allergy.
“We hope this case serves as a reminder that businesses must take their allergen responsibilities seriously. Consumers have a right to expect that the food they eat and drink is safe, and there are consequences for businesses that fail to meet the required standards.”