Holding Companies Accountable

When companies fail to take allergy safety seriously, we need to call it out. This isn't about boycotts—it's about transparency, accountability, and pushing for better practices that could save lives.

Companies with Documented Issues

Pret a Manger

Ongoing Concerns

Documented Issues:

Multiple fatalities due to undeclared allergens in products
Inadequate allergen labelling on freshly prepared items
Inconsistent staff training on allergy protocols
Failure to properly communicate cross-contamination risks
Insufficient allergen information available in-store

What They Should Be Doing:

Clear, visible allergen labelling on all products, including freshly prepared items
Comprehensive staff training on allergy management and cross-contamination
Dedicated allergen-free preparation areas or clear protocols for preventing cross-contamination
Easy access to detailed allergen information in-store and online
Proactive communication about risks rather than reactive responses after incidents

Note: Pret has made some improvements following high-profile incidents, but concerns remain about consistency across locations and the adequacy of their current protocols. Always exercise extreme caution and ask detailed questions before consuming any Pret products if you have severe allergies.

Byron Burger

Fatal Incident

Documented Issues:

Fatal allergic reaction due to undeclared dairy in a burger
Failure to properly communicate allergen information to kitchen staff
Inadequate allergen management systems despite customer clearly stating allergy
Breakdown in communication between front-of-house and kitchen regarding allergy requirements
Company fined for food safety failures following the incident

What They Should Be Doing:

Robust systems to ensure allergy information is clearly communicated from order to kitchen
Dedicated allergen protocols that cannot be bypassed or overlooked
Comprehensive staff training on the severity of allergies and proper handling procedures
Clear verification processes to ensure allergen-free orders are prepared correctly
Regular audits and training updates to prevent system failures

Note: This case highlights the critical importance of end-to-end allergy management systems. Even when customers clearly communicate their allergies, breakdowns in kitchen communication can have fatal consequences. The company was prosecuted and fined, demonstrating the legal consequences of failing to manage allergens properly.

More companies will be added as issues are documented. This is a living document that will be updated as companies improve or as new problems emerge.

Why This Matters

Companies have a legal and moral responsibility to keep customers safe. When they cut corners on allergy safety, mislabel products, or fail to train staff properly, people can die.

This page highlights companies with documented issues around allergy safety. The goal isn't to destroy businesses—it's to:

Make information accessible so people can make informed decisions
Put pressure on companies to improve their practices
Celebrate companies that do things right
Create accountability through transparency

The Broader Picture: Why This List Is Incomplete

It's important to understand the limitations of what we can know about allergy-related deaths and incidents in the UK.

The Scale of the Problem

According to UK allergy-support charities, during the past 25–30 years, fatal food anaphylaxis has caused approximately 150 deaths in the UK. This is a significant number, but the true picture is likely more complex.

Why We Can't Produce a Complete List

1. Medical Classification Issues

Many fatal reactions may be recorded under different medical causes (e.g., "asthma exacerbation") even if triggered by food allergy. This undermines clarity in public data and makes it difficult to track the true number of allergy-related deaths.

2. No National Registry

There is no mandatory national, publicly accessible registry of allergy-related deaths tied to food businesses. The absence of a centralised tracking system means some deaths may never be linked concretely to a specific restaurant or mislabelling—even if suspected.

3. Underreporting and Privacy

Many cases involve small businesses or independent outlets where media or legal scrutiny is less likely. Families may prefer privacy, inquests may not attract national attention, and some fatal reactions occur at establishments that never attract big media coverage—those tend to fade without forming part of any official record.

⚠️ What This Means for You

• We cannot produce a complete list of all chains or restaurants ever responsible for fatal food-allergy deaths—because so many cases either go unreported publicly, or are medically coded under other causes.
• We cannot assume that absence of a public report equals "safe"—there may be unreported or misclassified fatalities.
• Only a very small number of national chains are publicly known to have had fatal cases—yet allergy deaths (≈150 over ~30 years) keep happening in contexts scattered across the UK.
• The lack of a comprehensive registry means you cannot assume a chain or restaurant is "safe" just because it wasn't in the news.

What This Means in Practice

Good practice when eating out remains essential, regardless of whether a company appears on this list:

Ask staff directly about allergens and cross-contamination risks
Insist on clear ingredient information (written where possible)
Avoid "simple" assumptions (e.g., "plain grilled chicken" doesn't guarantee safe marinade)
Never assume a company is safe just because they're not listed here
Trust your instincts—if something feels off, walk away

What Good Allergy Safety Looks Like

While we call out companies that fail, it's important to recognise what good practice actually looks like:

✓ Clear labelling: Allergen information is visible, accurate, and easy to find on every product.
✓ Trained staff: Employees understand allergies, know how to answer questions, and can confidently guide customers.
✓ Transparent processes: Companies are upfront about risks, cross-contamination possibilities, and what they can and cannot guarantee.
✓ Dedicated protocols: Clear procedures for handling allergy requests, including separate prep areas or rigorous cleaning protocols.
✓ Accessible information: Detailed allergen information available online, in-store, and from staff without having to fight for it.
✓ Proactive communication: Companies reach out when products change or when issues are discovered, rather than waiting for customers to ask.

Reporting Issues

If you've experienced issues with a company's allergy safety practices, here's what you can do:

1. Report to the Company

Contact the company directly. Document everything: what happened, when, where, who you spoke to, and what was said. Keep records of all communications.

2. Report to Authorities

In the UK, report to the Food Standards Agency. If you had an allergic reaction, also report to your GP and consider contacting Trading Standards.

3. Share Your Experience

Consider sharing your experience (anonymously if preferred) with allergy organisations like Anaphylaxis UK. They track patterns and can advocate for change.

4. Contact This Site

If you have documented evidence of a company's poor allergy safety practices, you can contact me. I'll review and consider adding companies to this page based on documented, verifiable issues.

Important: This page is based on publicly available information, documented incidents, and verifiable reports. It is not legal advice. Always do your own research and make decisions based on your own risk assessment. Companies can change their practices, so this information may become outdated. The goal is transparency and accountability, not defamation.