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BACK OF THE HOUSE CASE REVIEWS

Discussing the following case reviews can help back of the house staff pinpoint mistakes and determine how to
prevent similar mistakes in the future . These case reviews describe real life experiences .

Case Review 1
A woman with a peanut allergy ordered a cannoli . The menu indicated that the cannoli contained chopped pistachio
nuts . The woman ate the cannoli and had a reaction that required a trip to the emergency room .

How did this happen?
Although the restaurant didn’t realize it, the bakery that supplied the cannoli to the restaurant used peanut pieces that
were dyed green instead of pistachio nuts .
How could this have been prevented?
Be sure that your suppliers provide complete ingredient information for all foods and that the staff members designated
to handle guests with food allergies read ingredient information for all foods prepared for those guests .
Case Review 2
A couple and their 2 year old son were dining in a restaurant . The couple told the server about their son’s allergies to
peanuts and milk and asked about ingredients . They ordered a plain hamburger . When the burger was served, the
father lifted the bun to be sure it hadn’t been buttered and didn’t contain cheese . Satisfied that the burger was OK,
the father began feeding his son the hamburger . He soon noticed traces of cheese on the bottom of the meat . The
little boy suffered an allergic reaction .
How did this happen?
When someone in the kitchen noticed that cheese had been added to the burger, they peeled the cheese off the
hamburger instead of making a new one .
How could this have been prevented?
Be sure staff understands that trace amounts of an allergen may cause a life threatening reaction in some individuals .
Emphasize that if a mistake is made when preparing a meal for a guest with a food allergy, the dish must be
discarded, and the order must be remade from scratch .

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