ACF condemns restaurateur over peanut curry death

24 May 2016 by
ACF condemns restaurateur over peanut curry death

The Indian restaurant owner found guilty of the manslaughter of a guest has been condemned by the Asian Catering Federation (ACF) as a "callous individual".

Mohammed Khalique Zaman was yesterday jailed for six years having been found guilty of manslaughter after a man was reported to have died after eating food prepared at the restaurant.

Paul Wilson, died in January last year after suffering an anaphylactic reaction having eaten a takeaway from the Indian Garden restaurant in Easingwold, north Yorkshire.

ACF chairman Yawar Khan said: "This callous individual has done enormous damage to the hard working restaurateurs and their staff, who exercise meticulous customer care and strive to build their businesses.

"This was a needless tragedy and our thoughts go out to the victim's family."

Zaman denied he was responsible for the death, but the jury at Teeside Crown Court was told that he swapped almond powder for a cheaper ground nut mix containing peanuts.

Having eaten a takeaway from Indian Garden, bar manager Wilson died in the bathroom of the Oak Tree pub in Helperby, near Thirsk, where he worked.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton said that Zaman had ignored warning from officials after a diner had suffered a reaction three weeks before Wilson's death. He said that Zaman had been "in complete and utter denial" and thrown away his £2m business "in pursuit of profit".

Wilson had specified "no nuts" in his chicken tikka masala, an instruction written on the order and on the takeaway lid.

Bourne Arton told Zaman: "He, like you, worked in the catering trade. He, unlike you, was a careful man."

Wilson's death sparked an investigation by the Food Standards Agency into the substitution of peanuts and almonds for more expensive cumin.

Khan added that the ACF, of which Zaman was not a member, was educating members about the dangers of allergens.

He said: "It is horrific that someone has died because a restaurant fails to follow standard procedures."

Restaurant owner found guilty of manslaughter following peanut allergy death >>

Restaurant owner charged with manslaughter over peanut death >>


*Are you looking for a new role? See all the current hospitality vacancies available with The Caterer* Jobs >>

The Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email

Start the working day with The Caterer’s free breakfast briefing email

Sign Up and manage your preferences below

Check mark icon
Thank you

You have successfully signed up for the Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email and will hear from us soon!

Jacobs Media Group is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.

close

Ad Blocker detected

We have noticed you are using an adblocker and – although we support freedom of choice – we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. They are an important revenue source which supports free access of our website's content, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

trade tracker pixel tracking