Disney Springs restaurant the place physician dined earlier than allergy demise now asks about meals allergy symptoms up entrance

US Information

By Steve Helling and Isabel Keane

ORLANDO — The Disney Springs restaurant the place an NYU Langone physician ate earlier than she went into anaphylactic shock and died now asks diners about meals allergy symptoms when taking orders, a supervisor informed The Put up.

Staffers on the vacationer hotspot have been skilled to take meals allergy symptoms “very severely” even earlier than the demise of Kanokporn Tangsuan, in keeping with the worker, who spoke on the situation of anonymity.

Tangsuan’s husband, Jeffrey Piccolo, alleged in a lawsuit that she alerted the waitstaff at Raglan Highway Irish Pub and Restaurant a number of instances to her extreme nut and dairy allergy symptoms — and staff insisted they have been in a position to make allergen-free meals throughout their Oct. 5 go to.

The pub is owned and operated by Irish companions John Cooke and Paul Nolan.

Each Disney and the homeowners have been named within the swimsuit.

The supervisor on the bustling restaurant informed The Put up on Tuesday that every one staffers are informed to work with clients to seek out alternate options to an meals with allergens — and to test with the kitchen if they’re not sure.

“I don’t know if that is due to the incident, however now the very first thing we ask once we take the order is whether or not anybody on the desk has any allergy symptoms. We’ve been doing that since late final 12 months, at the very least earlier than Thanksgiving,” they added.

A diner’s allergy is famous within the restaurant’s system and something being ordered to their desk that might trigger a difficulty is flagged, in keeping with the staffer.

“We deal with the desk as one entity. So if one particular person says that they’re allergic to tree nuts, we’ll flag if anybody on the desk is ordering one thing with tree nuts,” they added.

Whereas some menu gadgets may be modified, others can’t, the supervisor defined, noting that the batter for many of their fried meals is made with dairy until the client particularly asks that it’s made vegan.

Tangsuan ate onion rings, scallops and a broccoli and corn fritter, in keeping with the lawsuit.

It’s not clear whether or not she ordered the vegan choice on the fried meals.

“I don’t know which of them she ordered, however she ought to have been given the vegan ones, and she or he could be advantageous. The opposite ones have milk,” the supervisor stated.

The worker conceded that with such a fast-paced kitchen, the restaurant nonetheless has wants to determine some safeguards to keep away from cross-contamination.

Disney followers who in on-line boards typically laud the resort for its inclusiveness and lodging for numerous dietary restrictions and allergy symptoms.

Nonetheless, on its web site, Disney warns they don’t have separate allergy-free kitchens and can’t assure a menu merchandise is totally freed from allergens.

On-line commenters famous that that Raglan Highway’s consideration to meals allergy symptoms appeared “practically equivalent” to what they’d anticipate from Disney-owned bistros.

“We dined at Raglan Rd and one member of our social gathering had [a] shellfish allergy. All went properly (we even have Dairy, and Gluten allergy symptoms)” one other particular person responded.

A submit about Tangsuan’s demise on WDW Information At the moment’s social media additionally drew a shocked response from many Disney revelers who’ve had nice experiences at resort eateries.

“I’ve eaten at a number of completely different Disney Springs eating places with pals who’ve extreme allergy symptoms. When talked about to the servers, the chef would come out and communicate to them taking notes. So sorry this occurred. Heartbreaking,” one person wrote.

Although most discussion board posters praised Disney for its allergy lodging — some shared horror tales of their experiences receiving meals that they have been informed was allergen-free, solely to appreciate the error later.

One DisBoards poster stated her 9-year-old son was additionally given nuts at Raglan Highway regardless of warning the restaurant workers of his allergy.

“My 9-year-old will get his dessert and had a bit however determined he didn’t prefer it so he stopped consuming it. After a bit I occur to note what regarded like an almond in it and positive sufficient it’s silvered almonds!” the poster wrote, including that the supervisor was “fully cavalier” concerning the incident.

It’s unclear what portion of Tangsuan’s meal had been contaminated. Based on courtroom papers, the medical expert’s investigation revealed she died on account of anaphylaxis as a consequence of “elevated ranges of dairy and nut in her system,” the lawsuit stated.

Court docket papers alleged that Disney advertises and makes it clear to the general public that meals allergy symptoms and/or the lodging of individuals with meals allergy symptoms are a “prime precedence” at its parks and resorts. 

The swimsuit claimed that Disney “failed to coach, prepare and/or instruct its staff” to “make certain meals indicated as allergen-free or requested to be made allergen free, was in actual fact freed from allergens.” 

Tangsuan’s husband is in search of damages in extra of $50,000 pursuant to Florida’s wrongful demise act, along with psychological ache and struggling, lack of revenue and funeral bills.

Neither Disney nor Raglan Highway has responded to the lawsuit, or requests for remark from The Put up.