Whether it’s to meet a friend or to pick up a takeaway coffee on a shopping trip, going to a coffee shop like Caffe Nero should be an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, if you suffer from a food allergy, accidentally consuming food or drink that can trigger an allergic reaction. This may be a worry that might always be at the back of your mind. If staff breached their duty of care and caused you to suffer a food allergy in Caffe Nero, the company may owe you a compensation payout for your injuries if you can prove their failings.
Legal Helpline can help you claim compensation for your injuries. We are a trusted personal injury claims specialist. If after consulting with you, we can see that you are owed compensation by Caffe Nero, we can appoint a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer from our panel to handle your compensation claim. Our panel of solicitors have decades of experience handling compensation claims against the likes of coffee shops, and they will always push to win you the optimum amount of money you could be owed.
Begin your claim for an allergic reaction after drinking at Caffe Nero today. Call us on 0161 6969 685, or use the contact form on our website to contact us in writing. If you’d like to find out more, why not click through the sections below?
Jump To A Section
- A Guide To Claiming For A Food Allergy After Drinking At Caffe Nero
- What Is A Drink Allergy?
- How Commonly Do People Suffer From Food Allergies?
- I Asked Caffe Nero Not To Serve Me An Allergen
- Caffe Nero Did Not Follow My Request To Leave Out An Ingredient
- Could A Restaurant Cause An Allergic Reaction Through Negligence?
- I Did Not Tell Caffe Nero I Had An Allergy, Could I Still Claim Damages?
- Drinks And Foods Which May Cause Allergic Reactions
- Caffe Nero Allergy Information And Menu
- Drink And Food Allergy In Caffe Nero Compensation Calculator
- What Additional Forms Of Compensation Could Be Claimed?
- No Win No Fee Claims For Drink And Food Allergies In Caffe Nero
- Contacting Legal Helpline
- Resources And Supporting Information
A Guide To Claiming For A Food Allergy After Drinking At Caffe Nero
Caffe Nero is one of the UK’s most popular coffee shop chains. It was founded in London by Gerry Ford in 1997 and offers Italian style coffee and a range of sweet and savoury foods. The brand now owns over 1,000 coffee shops around the world and operates in 11 countries.
Caffe Nero owes their customers a duty of care, which means that they should ensure health and safety regulations are met so as to prevent customers from becoming injured or ill whilst enjoying their goods and services. This means that if the negligent actions of Caffe Nero staff trigger a customer’s allergy in Caffe Nero, provided it can be shown the outlet breached its duty of care, they could be held liable for the customer’s injuries.
Read this guide to find out more about how to claim compensation for an allergic reaction to Caffe Nero food or drink. Alternatively, call Legal Helpline’s claims hotline today, and if an advisor can see that you are owed allergic reaction compensation, a solicitor will be assigned to work on your behalf, to win you the compensation you deserve.
What Is A Drink Allergy?
An allergy is when the body mistakes an otherwise harmless substance as a threat. As a result, the body’s immune system releases chemicals, including histamine to fight the perceived threat, creating unwanted allergy symptoms. A food or drink allergy is when a person experiences an allergic reaction, as a result of eating or drinking an otherwise harmless substance.
Most allergic reactions are mild to moderate. Symptoms an individual may experience when suffering from a mild to moderate allergic reaction to food or drink may include the following:
- Urticaria, also known as hives, which is a raised red rash
- An irritating itchy sensation in the ears, throat and mouth
- Angioedema which is when the face swells up, in particular around the eyes, lips, at the roof of the mouth and the tongue.
- Someone experiencing an allergic reaction to food may also experience stomach problems, for example, they may vomit or have diarrhoea.
Unfortunately, there is also a serious form of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, or an anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal if not treated. Someone who is experiencing anaphylaxis may have difficulty breathing and swallowing; they may become dizzy or faint, or collapse and lose consciousness. If you believe someone is suffering from an anaphylactic shock, dial 999 immediately. Administer the appropriate first aid whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
What Is A Caffe Nero Allergic Reaction To A Food Or Drink?
People who suffer from a food allergy are responsible for managing their condition. However, businesses such as restaurants and cafes are responsible for providing their customers with nutritional and allergy information, to help them make informed choices about what they eat. They are also supposed to provide help where necessary and possible.
If you have experienced an allergic reaction after drinking at Caffe Nero or eating Caffe Nero food, you may be eligible for a compensation payout if you can evidence how the coffee shop breached its duty of care to you. Whether you experienced an allergic reaction after eating or drinking in a branch of Caffe Nero, purchased takeaway food or drink, or had your refreshments delivered by an app such as Uber Eats, it won’t make a difference to your ability to claim compensation.
How Commonly Do People Suffer From Food Allergies?
According to the Food Standards Agency, as of March 2017, 1-2% of the general population of the UK suffers from one or more types of food or drink allergy. The number is higher amongst children, with an estimated 5-8% of children suffering from a food allergy.
The Food Standards Agency data tells us that the number of people who die because of incidents related to food allergies a year is relatively low, at around 10 cases. However, understandably people who suffer from severe allergies often find that fear of suffering from a serious allergy attack has a negative effect on their mental health.
Data published by the EAACI says that up to 20% of allergy sufferers on the European continent suffer from anxiety and fear about experiencing an anaphylactic shock, severe asthma attack or even dying because of their allergies. This is understandable when a small unintended mistake by a chef or a waiter could mean that the person has to be hospitalised.
I Asked Cafe Nero Not To Serve Me An Allergen
Guidelines on public health set out by the government states that restaurants, cafes and other businesses serving food must comply with customers requests to leave out an ingredient, if it’s possible to do so. For example, if a customer informs the staff at Caffe Nero that they have a dairy allergy, and requests for their latte to be made with soy milk rather than dairy products, the business must comply. If they cannot, they must advise the customer.
These are requests for ingredients to be removed that customers at Caffe Nero may make:
- No milk to be included
- No tomatoes to be included
- No eggs to be included
- No wheat to be included
- No oats to be included
- No fish to be included
- No milk to be included
- No nuts to be included
Of course, some items of food or drink may have already been prepared ahead of time or prepacked, so the ingredients cannot be removed. If a customer informs Caffe Nero staff that they suffer from a food allergy, and order food or drink that the ingredients cannot be removed from, the server must warn the customer that the menu item is unsuitable for them and advise them on more allergy-friendly options. Failing to do so, in legal terms can be deemed as “failure to warn”.
Caffe Nero Did Not Follow My Request To Leave Out An Ingredient
What should you do if you requested Caffe Nero to leave out an ingredient due to allergies and your request was ignored? This could be seen as negligence on the part of Caffe Nero, even if it was a genuine mistake on the part of the barista. As a result, Caffe Nero could be held liable for your injuries and have to pay you compensation, provided you can prove by way of evidence that the coffee shop breached its duty of care.
Similarly, if Caffe Nero failed to warn you about the contents of your order after you had already informed them about your food and drink allergies, you may have grounds to be compensated if you suffer a reaction as a result and can prove the failings of the outlet.
If you believe Caffe Nero owes you compensation for an allergic reaction to a Caffe Nero frappe, Caffe Nero iced coffee, or any other Caffe Nero menu item, call Legal Helpline today. We will speak to you in-depth and if we believe that you are owed compensation, we will provide you with a No Win No Fee solicitor to handle your claim.
Although allergy awareness should be part of a restaurant worker’s training, if you believe your request to remove an ingredient has not been understood by your server, ask to speak to the manager. It’s better to get a second opinion than risk having a server make a dangerous mistake.
Could A Restaurant Cause An Allergic Reaction Through Negligence?
What laws exist to protect people with allergies when they eat out? There are laws such as the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, which states that restaurants owe their customers a duty of care when they are on their premises or using their services. Therefore if a restaurant acts in a negligent manner and a diner is injured as a result, they may be eligible to claim compensation.
Can a restaurant or cafe cause a diner to experience an allergic reaction to food or drink? Yes, if ingredients are present in an item of food or drink which should not be there, this could cause an allergic reaction in Caffe Nero. The Consumer Protection Act 1987 was introduced in the UK to protect consumers who have been injured due to a product that is faulty.
The Act states that if a consumer is injured because of a faulty item, the manufacturer could be held liable for their injuries. This allows the injured customer to claim compensation. If you ate food or had a drink with items that were not supposed to be present, for example, you ate a cake with raisins which were not supposed to be included, you may be owed compensation by the business for any harm caused by a reaction. In such cases, supplying evidence of the outlet’s breach of duty will be crucial.
In addition to this, suffering a food allergy in Caffe Nero because staff ignored a request to remove an ingredient or failed to warn you about the allergenic ingredients of your beverage or food, can be considered negligence. If you believe that you are owed compensation for your injuries, call Legal Helpline to speak to us about your ordeal and begin your claim.
I Did Not Tell Caffe Nero I Had An Allergy, Could I Still Claim Damages?
Even if you chose not to inform the barista at Caffe Nero about your food or drink allergy, you may still be eligible to claim compensation if you were provided with inadequate Caffe Nero allergy information or if your order was cross-contaminated.
Failures To Correctly Display Caffe Nero Allergy Information
EU directives, which are also applied in the United Kingdom, state that foods that contain any of the 14 common allergenic ingredients should contain written warnings. These warnings should be on the menu or food packaging and should be made to stand out, for example, being highlighted in the colour red or written in bold. Failure to do so could be considered negligence on the part of the restaurant.
For example, if Caffe Nero sells a sandwich which contains pesto (a sauce which is made with pine nuts), this must be listed on the food packaging. If they fail to do so and a customer with a nut allergy eats the sandwich, triggering an allergy in Caffe Nero, the cafe chain could be seen to be at fault.
If you have suffered an allergic reaction at a Caffe Nero near you, or one based anywhere else in the UK, and believe it was because of the failings of the outlet, you may be owed compensation. Call Legal Helpline today to see if you are eligible for a compensation payout.
Drinks And Foods Which May Cause Allergic Reactions
Here are some common drink allergies and food allergies that can affect people’s health:
- Suffering from a nut allergy
- Suffering from an egg allergy
- Suffering from a milk allergy
- Suffering from a dairy allergy
- Suffering from a wheat allergy
- Suffering from a soy allergy
- Suffering from a fruit allergy
- Suffering from a cereal allergy
- Suffering from a gluten allergy
- Suffering from a celery allergy
- Suffering from a seafood allergy
- Suffering from a fish allergy
- Suffering from a lupin allergy
- Suffering from a mustard allergy
- Suffering from a shellfish allergy
- Suffering from a sulphur dioxide allergy
Caffe Nero Allergy Information And Menu
Caffe Nero provides allergy information on their website and has Caffe Nero nutritional food and drink information available as well for people on special diets. Below is a sample of the Caffe Nero menu. Please be aware the contents of the Caffe Nero drinks menu may change over time or may be reduced due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Menu
Hot Coffees
- Americano
- Cappuccino
- Latte
- Cortado
- Flat White
- Mocha
- Espresso
- Espresso Con Panna
- Macchiato
- Caramelatte
- White Chocolate Mocha
Cold Coffees
- Iced Coconut Latte
- Ultimate Espresso Tonic
- Original Espresso And Tonic
- Iced Cappuccino
- Iced Latte
- Frappe Latte
- Mocha Frappe Latte
- Iced Americano
Extras
- Marshmallows
- Vanilla Syrup
- Whipped Cream
Frappe Creme
- Espresso Caramel Frappe Creme
- Raspberry & Belgian White Chocolate Frappe Creme
- Salted Caramel & Pistachio Frappe Creme
- Triple Belgian Chocolate Frappe Creme
Fruit Boosters
- Alphonso Mango & Passionfruit Booster
- Raspberry & Italian Peach Booster
Frappe Milkshakes
- Belgian Chocolate Frappe Milkshake
- Strawberry Frappe Milkshake
- Vanilla Frappe Milkshake
Hot Chocolate
- Chocolate Milano
- Chai Latte
Drink And Food Allergy In Caffe Nero Compensation Calculator
If you have experienced negligence at a Caffe Nero, leading you to suffer an allergic reaction to Caffe Nero food or drink, you can use our personal injury claims calculator to estimate how much money you may be able to claim. You can use it to estimate how much you may receive in general damages, which is a payout for the physical pain, mental suffering and the loss of amenity that you experienced due to your injuries.
Degree of illness Comments On Symptoms Experienced Potential Damages
Illness I The most severe level of food related illnesses. These will need hospital admission and treatment. Symptoms may continue for some time after. £36,060 to £49,270
Illness II This may be a serious but shorter incident causing symptoms such as diarrhoea, disturbed bowel function as well as other symptoms such as effects on sexual function. £8,950 to £18,020
Illness III Food related illnesses at this level may lead to significant stomach cramps and discomfort as well as symptoms affecting your bowel function. Hospital care may be needed. £3,710 to £8,950
Illness - IV The claimant could be suffering from cramps, pain and diarrhoea. This may last for between days and weeks. From around £860 to £3,710
The figures in the table above are taken from guidelines issued by the Judicial College, an organisation that reviews compensation awards made by the courts.
What Additional Forms Of Compensation Could Be Claimed?
In addition to claiming for general damages, you will also be able to claim special damages. Special damages are a payout to the claimant to reimburse them for any expenses they have had due to their allergic reaction or other injuries. Special damages you can claim include:
- The cost of medical expenses you have had to pay, or the cost of any medical treatment you may need in the future.
- A rebate of your travel expenses, for example, the cost of taking a taxi to the hospital.
- Payment for any lost income for the time taken off work due to your injuries.
- Funds for any at-home care, including compensation to pay a friend or family member who cared for you.
No Win No Fee Claims For Drink And Food Allergies In Caffe Nero
Another great advantage of making a claim with Legal Helpline is the option to have your case handled as a No Win No Fee claim.
A No Win No Fee claim is when a solicitor agrees to work on a client’s claim without charging an upfront fee or any ongoing fees.
A fee is only payable if your solicitor wins the claim. The fee they charge is a small one and is capped by law. Essentially, a No Win No Fee claim means that the solicitor takes on the financial risk. This is the preferred option for many people because of its affordability and lower risk.
To learn more about how making a No Win No Fee claim can be more beneficial, call our legal hotline to discuss your case with a claims advisor for free.
Contacting Legal Helpline
If you have experienced an allergic reaction after drinking at Caffe Nero, you may have eligibility to claim compensation for your injuries. To begin your process of claiming, call Legal Helpline today.
Call us today on 0161 6969 685 or use our claims enquiry form to reach us.
Resources And Supporting Information
Wheat Intolerance And Wheat Allergic Reaction Claims
How To Claim Compensation With A Food Allergy Solicitor
I Had An Accident At A Restaurant – How Do I Claim Compensation?
Guide by HE
Edited by REG