A family in New England is pursuing legal action against Panera Bread after their 6-year-old daughter was served a grilled cheese sandwich that contained peanut butter—a substance she is severely allergic to. The parents, Mike and Rachel Thompson, routinely inform restaurant staff about their daughter’s peanut allergy when ordering, and they specifically noted it twice using Panera’s online ordering system on January 28. Unfortunately, the sandwich arrived with two large spoonfuls of peanut butter.
Initially, the child, who was 5 at the time, did not exhibit immediate severe symptoms, prompting their pediatrician to recommend Benadryl. However, her condition worsened, leading to vomiting and the presence of hives, which resulted in a visit to the hospital where medical staff administered an epinephrine shot, as reported by the Boston Globe.
In their lawsuit, the Thompsons claim that a Panera employee knowingly added peanut butter to the sandwich despite being aware of their daughter’s life-threatening allergy. In response, Panera stated that the allergy notice on the order ticket contributed to the mishap. Mike Thompson reached out to the restaurant where they ordered, and the manager apologized, attributing the mistake to a communication issue.
Panera’s website includes a disclaimer stating, “Please note that we cannot guarantee that any of our menu items are free of allergens because we use shared equipment and handle common allergens throughout our supply chain and bakery-cafe.”
The incident has sparked a heated debate online regarding how food allergies should be addressed. Many parents expressed their views on the lawsuit, with one father stating, “Common sense tells us you’ll never have peanut butter added to a grilled cheese sandwich unless it’s requested.” Others argued that informing the staff about allergies is crucial, as one commenter noted, “You should always tell if there is an allergy.”
Some individuals even suggested that the Thompsons should have prepared the grilled cheese at home to avoid the risk of cross-contamination. “If any of my children had a severe food allergy we would NEVER eat at any restaurants,” remarked one mother, emphasizing the importance of safety.
The ongoing debate raises the question: what is the best way to handle food allergies in public settings? It’s a complex issue with no clear answers, which may explain the variety of opinions circulating online.
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In summary, the lawsuit against Panera highlights the challenges faced by families managing severe food allergies and raises important questions about safety measures in restaurants.