Finding into death of BS
Demographics
37y, male
Date of death
2016-11-14
Finding date
2018
Cause of death
anaphylaxis
AI-generated summary
A 37-year-old man with known severe macadamia nut allergy died from anaphylaxis after consuming a dessert ordered online that contained macadamia nuts. He was unaware the dessert contained this allergen, either because it was not listed on the website or he failed to notice it. He could not locate his EpiPen during the acute reaction. The coroner found the death preventable, emphasising that best practice requires persons with food allergies to declare their allergies to food retailers when ordering, and that restaurants must consistently and accurately list allergen information across all menus and online platforms. The case highlights gaps between food safety requirements and consumer understanding, and the critical importance of keeping EpiPens readily accessible.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Error types
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- allergen not clearly disclosed on online ordering platform
- inconsistent allergen information across different websites
- deceased unaware dessert contained macadamia nuts
- EpiPen not readily accessible during anaphylactic reaction
- cannabis use present at time of death may have impaired cognition and reaction time
Coroner's recommendations
- Encourage restaurant and takeaway shop owners to ensure their menus and all online menus consistently and accurately reflect allergen ingredients
- Remind persons with food allergies to ensure they have rapid access to an EpiPen at all times
- Encourage online food ordering services to clearly invite consumers to disclose food allergies before finalising orders
- Promote awareness among the community that menus do not have to list allergens or all ingredients
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