Disney Springs restaurant where doctor dined before allergy death now asks about food allergies up front

US News

By Steve Helling and Isabel Keane

ORLANDO — The Disney Springs restaurant the place an NYU Langone physician ate before she went into anaphylactic shock and died now asks diners about meals allergic reactions when taking orders, a supervisor informed The Submit.

Staffers on the vacationer hotspot have been skilled to take meals allergic reactions “very severely” even earlier than the loss of life of Kanokporn Tangsuan, in accordance 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 occasions to her extreme nut and dairy allergic reactions — and staff insisted they have been capable of 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 house owners have been named within the go well with.

The supervisor on the bustling restaurant informed The Submit on Tuesday that each one staffers are informed to work with clients to search out options to an meals with allergens — and to examine 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 allergic reactions. We’ve been doing that since late final 12 months, no less than 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 accordance with the staffer.

“We deal with the desk as one entity. So if one individual 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 objects 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 or not it’s made vegan.

Tangsuan ate onion rings, scallops and a broccoli and corn fritter, in accordance 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 effective. The opposite ones have milk,” the supervisor mentioned.

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 allergic reactions.

Nevertheless, 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 allergic reactions appeared “practically similar” 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 effectively (we even have Dairy, and Gluten allergic reactions)” one other individual responded.

A submit about Tangsuan’s loss of life on WDW Information Immediately’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 mates who’ve extreme allergic reactions. When talked about to the servers, the chef would come out and converse 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 mentioned her 9-year-old son was additionally given nuts at Raglan Highway regardless of warning the restaurant employees 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 appeared like an almond in it and certain sufficient it’s silvered almonds!” the poster wrote, including that the supervisor was “utterly cavalier” concerning the incident.

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

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

The go well with 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 the truth is freed from allergens.” 

Tangsuan’s husband is in search of damages in extra of $50,000 pursuant to Florida’s wrongful loss of life 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 Submit.