Slug & Lettuce Food Allergic Reaction Claims Guide – How To Claim Compensation For An Allergic Reaction After Eating A Slug & Lettuce

How Much Could I Claim For A Slug & Lettuce Food Allergy

Whether you’re looking to take advantage of the Slug and Lettuce bottomless lunch, or are visiting to enjoy a midweek meal or a few drinks, you should be able to order with the confidence that you would not suffer an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce. This is because restaurants have a duty of care towards all their customers, including those with food allergies and intolerances, to uphold their health and safety. There are laws in place regarding food service providers’ responsibilities to supply their customers with accurate allergen information.

But what happens if something goes wrong? What happens if the Slug and Lettuce allergy info you receive is incorrect? Or the staff include an allergen in your food that you’ve asked to be left out, and you suffer a food allergy reaction in a Slug and Lettuce because of this? In such cases, you may be able to claim compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced, as well as recouping any costs or financial losses associated with an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce.

This guide explains the process of making a personal injury claim in more detail. We offer insight into compensation payouts, the laws food service providers should abide by, and how to begin a claim. If you would like advice tailored to your specific situation, or you’d like us to connect you with a lawyer from our panel that could represent you, we’d be glad to help.

You can call us at any time on 0161 696 9685.

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A Guide To Claiming For A Food Allergy In A Slug And Lettuce

If you’ve had an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce, you could be wondering whether you could take any action against the restaurant. A restaurant, just like other foodservice providers, has a responsibility to give their customers allergen information that is accurate. They should also attempt to provide allergen-free foods to those who have a food allergy where possible, though they are not duty-bound to comply with such requests.

Allergic reaction after eating Slug & Lettuce compensation claims guide

Allergic reaction after eating Slug & Lettuce compensation claims guide

If an outlet is negligent in providing the correct information or lists a dish as being allergen-free when it is not, this could cause a range of problems to customers with allergies. 

In some cases, you could make a personal injury claim against them for the harm inflicted. Below, we cover a range of different circumstances that could lead to such a claim. 

We also offer insight into what levels of compensation could be appropriate for such claims and give advice on finding a solicitor who could help you claim compensation for a food allergy you’ve suffered due to a restaurant’s negligence.

What Is An Allergy To A Food Or Drink?

Food allergies occur when the human body begins launching an immune system response towards something you’ve eaten, believing that it is a threat to you. 

Food allergies are different in nature to intolerances, as intolerances don’t involve the immune system at all. They are a response to amines, including histamines that are present in specific foods.

What Is An Allergy To Food From A Slug & Lettuce?

You could potentially suffer different types of allergic reactions after eating at Slug and Lettuce, such as non-IgE-mediated and IgE-mediated reactions. The difference between them is what proteins are included in the reaction as well as the symptoms you’d experience. 

The protein involved in IgE-mediated food allergies is immunoglobulin E, which is not present in a non-IgE-mediated reaction. However, some people experience mixed IgE and non-IgE-mediated food allergies.

Symptoms of non-IgE and IgE-mediated reactions are listed below:

  • A non-IgE reaction’s symptoms include cracked, red or dry skin, vomiting, cramps and constipation.
  • An IgE-mediated reaction’s symptoms include hives, swelling in the throat, face, mouth or body, dizziness, lightheadedness, swallowing difficulties, nausea, vomiting, tingling/itching of the mouth, wheezing, hay fever symptoms and shortness of breath.

Some allergic reactions can lead to life-threatening symptoms of anaphylaxis. This is considered to be a medical emergency. Treatments for less severe reactions could include antihistamines, steroids or simply waiting for your symptoms to dissipate.

Food Allergy-Related Facts And Statistics

The Allergy UK website reveals that approximately one-fifth of the UK’s population has an allergy, with around 7.1% of babies who are breastfed having at least one food allergy. Allergies have been thought to affect 3 – 6 % of the developed world’s children.

If you’re wondering about the statistics for hospitalisations for allergies, you may be surprised to know how common they are. Between 2013-2014, 20,000 hospital admissions cited allergies as the primary reason for admission and from 1992-2012 there was a 615% increase in anaphylaxis admissions.

I Ordered Food From The Slug & Lettuce Allergy Menu

A restaurant should, as per government guidelines, attempt to comply with a customer’s request to leave certain allergens out of their meal if they are able to do so. 

If you see a dish on the menu you would like to try, but it contains something you’re allergic to, you could ask that they prepare your meal without that ingredient. Some suggestions of amendments you could request for your food could include:

  • No cheese
  • No eggs
  • No fish
  • No milk
  • No nuts
  • No oats
  • No tomatoes
  • No wheat

If the staff can’t comply with your request, they should tell you they cannot leave the allergen out of your meal. Then you could order something that would not provoke an allergic reaction after eating at a Slug and Lettuce restaurant.

My Food Was Served From The Main Food Or Drink Menu

If, for example, you ordered an item from the gluten-free menu, you would expect your food not to contain gluten. Or, if you asked for an item to be omitted from your meal, and the staff accepted your order, you would expect your meal to come without that item included. 

If, however, the staff ignored your request for an allergen to be omitted from your meal or they served you food from the main menu rather than the allergen-free menu, you could have a food allergy reaction in a Slug and Lettuce due to this.

In such cases, the restaurant could be held liable for the suffering and pain you experienced because of your allergic reaction, as well as any financial expenses caused by it, provided you can prove that they breached their duty of care To find out more, get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team.

Negligence Due To Negligent Food Safety Practices

Many different negligent acts could lead to you suffering an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce. All restaurants have a legal responsibility to take care of the health and safety of those eating and drinking at their establishment. The IFST cites some issues that could occur in a restaurant that could lead to an allergic reaction, which includes:

  • Dishes being served without correct allergen information being provided
  • Cross-contamination of foods with allergens due to the same utensils being used on different ingredients

However, a restaurant has a duty to prevent their foods from harming their customers in this regard. Steps that a restaurant could take to avoid such situations could include:

  1. Effectively communicating allergen information to customers, by way of servers, the restaurant’s menu or allergen lists
  2. Making sure that if a customer requests a meal free of allergens, they honour the request or advise the customer that they can’t leave the allergen out
  3. Making sure food safety practices are adhered to, including using separate utensils for different ingredients as well as good cleaning of preparation areas.

Should a restaurant be found to be negligent in their legal responsibilities towards customers with allergies, and this causes a customer harm, the customer could take legal action against them in order to claim compensation.

Food Safety Rights And Legislative Requirements

Restaurant customers are afforded some protection within the Consumer Protection Act 2015. If a restaurant’s customer’s health is harmed by foods that could be deemed not as described, mis-sold or defective, they may be able to hold the seller responsible for the harm they’ve suffered.  Claims could be made where:

  • A customer asks a server to leave an item out of a meal, then suffers an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce because their request was ignored.
  • A food allergy in a Slug and Lettuce occurs due to inaccurate information on the allergen menu
  • A server advises you that a dish is safe to eat with your allergies and it is not

If you’re not certain about whether your allergic reaction could lead to compensation, here at Legal Helpline, we could assess your case for free and provide support and guidance as to the action you could take.

I Did Not Order From The Slug And Lettuce Allergy Menu, Do I Have A Claim?

Suffering an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce could still lead to compensation if you haven’t told the servers of your allergies. This is because restaurants have a legal responsibility to provide information on the presence of 14 specific allergens if they are contained in items on their menu. They could do this via a separate allergy list, on the main menu or on their website. If they do not provide such information, and you have an allergic reaction because of this, you could make a claim.

The Restaurant Failed To Provide Adequate Allergy Warning Information

Allergy warning information should be something a restaurant takes seriously. Warning customers of allergens contained within their food is a restaurant’s legal responsibility when it comes to the specific allergens listed below. However, a server should also be able to inform you about other allergens upon your request.

  • Celery
  • Molluscs
  • Soybeans
  • Crustaceans
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Tree nuts
  • Cereals containing gluten
  • Peanuts
  • Sesame
  • Lupin
  • Fish
  • Mustard
  • Sulphites or Sulphur dioxide

Suffering an allergic reaction because such allergy warnings have not been given to you could mean the restaurant could be held liable for your pain and suffering, as long as you can prove their failings.

Do Some Foods More Commonly Trigger Allergic Reactions?

According to the IFST, some foods are more likely to provoke an allergic reaction than others. The following allergies are seen more frequently to other food allergens:

  • Wheat allergies
  • Tree nut allergies
  • Soy allergies
  • Shellfish allergies
  • Peanut allergies
  • Fish allergies
  • Egg allergies
  • Cow’s milk allergies

However, there are a great many more allergies that people could suffer, including:

  • Celery allergies
  • Cereal allergies
  • Dairy allergies
  • Fruit allergies
  • Gluten allergies
  • Lupin allergies
  • Mustard allergies
  • Seafood allergies
  • Sulphur dioxide allergies

If you believe you might have a food allergy, it could be worth looking into what allergy services are available in your area. These could include allergy testing services, along with advice and support on dealing with those allergies.

Slug And Lettuce Menu And Allergen Information

At the time of posting, the Slug and Lettuce menu contains the items below. However, these may be subject to change. We would advise you to carefully check for the most up-to-date Slug and Lettuce menu information because dishes may be subject to change. You should also check at the time of ordering what the most updated Slug and Lettuce allergy info is because recipes could be subject to change too.

Slug and Lettuce Food Menu

Sharers

  • S and L sharer
  • Cheesy Nachos (v)

Small plates

  • Panko-crumb calamari
  • Southern-fried chicken goujons
  • Garlic breaded mushrooms (v)
  • Gyoza chicken or veg (vg-m)
  • Chicken wings
  • Margherita Arancini (v)
  • Chicken and chorizo croquettes

Burgers

  • Southern-fried chicken burger
  • Smothered chicken burger
  • Cheese and bacon beef burger
  • S and L burger
  • Smoky beef burger
  • Meat-less burger (v)
  • Swap your fries for sweet potato fries (v)

Mains

  • Smothered chicken
  • Battered cod and chips
  • Battered halloumi and chips (v)
  • Lasagne
  • Veg Thai curry (vg)
  • Chicken tikka
  • Scampi and chips
  • Chilli ’n’ rice
  • Cheesy Nachos (v)
  • Super mixed salad (vg)
  • Rump steak

Subs and wraps

  • Sticky BBQ chicken and bacon cheese melt
  • Halloumi and avocado (v)
  • Southern-fried chicken
  • Fish finger
  • BBQ rump steak

Sides

  • Fries and garlic mayo (v)
  • Sweet potato fries and garlic mayo (v)
  • Chips and garlic mayo (v)
  • Garlic tiger bread strips (v)
  • Beer-battered onion rings (v-m)

Desserts

  • Warm mini churros (v-m)
  • Warm mini brownie bites (v)
  • Pick ‘n’ mix

Kid’s menu

  • Baked chicken goujons
    pork sausages and gravy
    battered cod
  • Fruity pot jelly squeeze (vg)
  • Iced smoothie pot (v)

You should also check the Slug and Lettuce drinks menu and the Slug and Lettuce cocktail menu carefully to ensure that you do all that you can to avoid having an allergic reaction to Slug and Lettuce drinks.

Food Allergy In A Slug And Lettuce Compensation Calculator

A personal injury claims calculator is a tool that you might expect to give you a good idea of how much compensation you could receive for a Slug and Lettuce food allergy claim. However, because these tools cannot assess the facts and evidence surrounding your case, the figures they could give you might be wildly different from what you could actually receive.

We realise that this may be disappointing to learn. However, we could offer you some insight into the levels of compensation that could be achievable for such claims by providing the Judicial College Guidelines’ figures for injuries of this type. We hope you find the table below of interest, but if you feel your injury is not included, please don’t hesitate to call our helpline for further insight.

Illness/InjuryCompensation Award LevelRemarks
Illness as a result of injury (non-traumatic)£3,710 - £8,950Tiredness, bowel issues, and cramps causing the claimant discomfort that is significant. Symptoms may only last a few weeks, and full recovery could be achieved within one or two years.
Illness as a result of injury (non-traumatic)£36,060 - £49,270Acute levels of pain, fever, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Long terms effects on an injured party’s ability to work as normal or have a normal social life.
Illness as a result of injury (non-traumatic)£8,950 - £18,020An injured party could find their enjoyment of food affected for a few years.
Illness as a result of injury (non-traumatic)From around £860 to £3,710Various levels of cramping, pain and diarrhoea. Symptoms may last for some weeks or days in some cases.

Are The Other Damages Which Could Be Claimed?

Other damages you could receive as part of a claim for a Slug and Lettuce food allergy could include those designed to compensate you for financial expenses and losses caused by your reaction. These could include:

  • Care costs – if your allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce caused you to need care at home, these costs could be claimed for.
  • Travel costs – if you’ve incurred costs while visiting your lawyer or travelling to hospital appointments, you could include these within your claim.
  • Medical costs – costs of counselling or for prescription medicines could also be claimed for.
  • Wage loss – if your income has been lower because you’ve needed time off sick to recover from a food allergy reaction in a Slug and Lettuce, you could claim damages for this.

It is crucial that you are able to prove any costs you’re intending to claim for. Documents such as payslips, bank statements and bills could be vital in ensuring you are able to claim for expenses you’ve experienced.

No Win No Fee Claims For A Food Allergy In A Slug And Lettuce

If you would like to claim for an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce, you might wish to benefit from the assistance of a personal injury solicitor. Making a personal injury claim without one could be possible, but you would face the burden of proving your claim and negotiating compensation alone, which could be quite stressful.

Obtaining help from a personal injury lawyer for such a claim doesn’t mean you’d have to pay legal fees upfront. Instead, you could get help on a No Win No Fee basis. These types of claims usually work as follows:

  • The claimant would sign a Conditional Fee Agreement. This document would cite a ‘success fee’, which would only be payable to the lawyer if the case was a success. The fee is small and is legally capped.
  • Once the document was signed, the lawyer would begin work on the case, collecting evidence and negotiating compensation.
  • If a settlement was achieved, the success fee would be deducted from the claimant’s payout, with the rest going to benefit them.
  • If no settlement was achieved, the claimant would not pay the success fee or any of their solicitor’s fees.

We could help you connect with a lawyer who could help with personal injury claims on a No Win No Fee basis. To benefit from our assistance, why not call us? We could also answer any questions you might have about the process and check your eligibility for free.

How To Contact Legal Helpline

Here at Legal Helpline, we believe everyone who has suffered an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce deserves to benefit from free advice and support. We could assess your claim to see if you could be eligible for compensation, at no charge to you. We could even connect you with a No Win No Fee personal injury lawyer from our panel to help begin a claim. You can reach us:

Quick Links

Techniques For Measuring Allergens – This government resource shows how courts could measure allergy cases.

Common Questions: Allergy Claims– This resource looks at some of the frequent questions received about allergy claims and their answers.

Allergic To Wheat?– Allergic reactions to wheat are covered in this handy guide.

McDonald’s Allergy Claims – You can find out more about making a personal injury claim for an allergic reaction in McDonald’s here.

Review: Allergy Court Cases – The government have provided some insight into allergy cases that have been heard in court.

Legislation To Help Those With Allergies – You can find further information on allergies in this guide.

 

Thank you for reading our guides on what to do if you’ve suffered an allergic reaction after eating at Slug and Lettuce.

 

 

Guide by JS

Edited by REG