Allergic Reaction After Eating At Pizza Hut – Can I Claim Compensation?

I Had An Allergic Reaction To Pizza Hut, Could I Claim Compensation?

By Daniel Archer. Last Updated 21st June 2022. People who have food allergies are responsible for avoiding the foods that they are allergic to. However, businesses that provide food such as supermarkets, restaurants, takeaway shops and cafes have a legal responsibility to inform their customers about the allergenic ingredients their food may contain in order to help them make informed decisions. 

They are also supposed to cooperate with customers if they request an ingredient to be left out of their food, though they can refuse any requests made. Therefore if you have suffered a food allergy in Pizza Hut because the business breached its duty of care towards you and you can prove that this was the case, you could make a compensation claim against Pizza Hut.

To begin your compensation claim, call Legal Expert today. Our solicitors have decades of experience helping our clients to claim compensation for their injuries. If you choose Legal Expert to represent your claim, we will provide you with a No Win No Fee lawyer who will value your case accurately and negotiate with the defendant to win you the optimal amount of compensation you could be eligible to claim.

If you have experienced an allergic reaction to Pizza Hut food and believe you are owed compensation, call Legal Expert to speak to a well-informed advisor. If we can see that you have legitimate grounds to claim compensation, we will provide you with a skilled personal injury solicitor who will negotiate with Pizza Hut to win you your compensation.

Call us on 0800 073 8804 today, or use our online claims form to reach us.

Select A Section

• A Guide To Claims For An Allergic Reaction After Eating At Pizza Hut
• Could You Be Allergic To A Pizza?
• What Foods Could You Have An Allergy To?
• Statistics On The Prevalence Of Food Allergies
• I Asked To Have An Ingredient I Am Allergic To Left Out
• My Request To Have An Ingredient Left Out Was Ignored
• Restaurant And Takeaway Customer Rights
• I Did Not Tell Pizza Hut About My Allergies, Could I Claim Compensation?
• Pizza Hut Allergen Menu
• How Much Could I Claim For An Allergic Reaction At Pizza Hut?
• Could I Also Claim For Special Damages?
• How You Could Be Helped By A Solicitor?
• No Win No Fee Claims If You Suffered An Allergic Reaction After Eating At Pizza Hut
• Talk To Our Team About A Restaurant Allergy Case
• Resources

A Guide To Claims For An Allergic Reaction After Eating At Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut is a chain of pizza and pasta restaurants. It offers a range of pizzas, a salad bar and a dessert menu. Pizza Hut was founded in Wichita, Kansas in 1958. There are over 18,000 branches of Pizza Hut worldwide and 253 in the UK. Pizza Hut offers eat-in, takeaway and home delivery options.

This guide has been created to help you understand how to claim compensation for a food allergy in Pizza Hut, which was caused by, among other ways, staff ignoring your request or incorrect information being provided on the allergy menu at Pizza Hut. We will look at what an allergic reaction is and the harmful effects it could have. You will also be informed of the circumstances in which you could claim compensation for your injuries and instruct you on the best way to make a personal injury claim.

To start your claims process, call us at Legal Expert promptly. Or contact us in writing using our online claims form. If you have the legitimacy to claim compensation, a No Win No Fee solicitor provided by Legal Expert will start working on your claim in a timely manner.

Could You Be Allergic To A Pizza?

A pizza base is normally made with eggs, flour and yeast so can be harmful to people who suffer from a wheat allergy, dairy allergy or a gluten allergy. They normally have tomato sauce and a cheese topping, which is harmful to people who suffer from a fruit or dairy allergy. In addition, Pizza Hut’s pizzas come with a variety of toppings which could be potentially harmful to a customer that suffers from a food allergy. 

An allergic reaction in Pizza Hut UK could occur because staff neglected to remove a topping from a pizza as requested by the customer. Or a customer who, for example, suffers from a gluten allergy, orders a gluten-free pizza and is accidentally served a pizza with a regular crust.

What Is An Allergic Reaction?

Food allergies are a medical condition affecting the immune system. If you suffer from a food allergy, your immune system sees proteins in a food substance as harmful. To fight the perceived threat, chemicals are released into the body by the allergy sufferers immune system. Most people who experience allergic reactions suffer from mild to moderate symptoms. 

Symptoms of a less severe allergic reaction can include a raised red rash known as hives, unsightly facial swellings known as angioedema, which can affect the lips, eyes, tongue and the roof of the mouth, and an uncomfortable persistent itching in the mouth, throat, eyes or ears. Fortunately mild to moderate allergic reactions to food are not life-threatening.

If someone experiences a severe allergic reaction, this is a medical emergency called anaphylaxis, also known as an anaphylactic shock. An anaphylactic shock can cause a person to fall into a coma which could be permanent or could kill them.

What are the symptoms of an anaphylactic shock? The skin can become clammy, they may experience feelings of dizziness, anxiety or becoming confused, their heart rate may increase, they may experience trouble breathing, for example wheezing or their breathing becomes quick and shallow. The injured person may collapse or lose consciousness. Someone suffering from anaphylaxis may also experience less severe forms of an allergic reaction. 

Because an anaphylactic shock is life-threatening, it should be treated with extreme urgency. If an anaphylactic shock occurs, dial 999 for an ambulance immediately. First aid can also be applied, such as giving them an epi-pen injection, should you know how to use it. For more information about how to help someone who is suffering from an anaphylactic shock, read this guide from the NHS.

What Foods Could You Have An Allergy To?

People suffer from different types of food allergies. Common food allergies people suffer from can include an allergy to types of fruit, cereals such as wheat, a gluten allergy and allergies to dairy products such as milk and eggs. Other types of food allergies that can affect people include allergies to seafood, shellfish allergies, mustard allergies, allergies to molluscs such as muscles and squid, or allergies to sulphur dioxide, which can be used in dried fruits.

How are food allergies treated? Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for an allergy, though some people experience allergies in childhood and grow out of them as they get older. Food allergies are managed by sufferers getting a diagnosis from an allergy clinic, then avoiding the foods that cause allergic reactions.

Statistics On The Prevalence Of Food Allergies

Unfortunately, a large number of people in Britain suffer from one or more allergy. According to research conducted by Mintel in 2010, 44% of British adults suffer from an allergy, and 48% of these adults suffered more than one allergy. 

The number of British adults suffering from an allergy seems to be increasing. Mintel noted that the number of adult allergy sufferers in the United Kingdom had risen by 2 million between 2008 and 2009. Unfortunately, the rates of the population affected by a severe allergy also seem to be on the rise. In the two decades leading up to 2012, there was a 615% increase in rates of patients being admitted to hospital for an anaphylaxis reaction.

The charity Allergy UK, which supports people who suffer from allergies, has more information about the prevalence of allergies in the UK and overseas on their website.

I Asked To Have An Ingredient I Am Allergic To Left Out

If a customer informs a restaurant or eatery about an allergy they suffer from and requests for an ingredient that triggers their allergy to be removed, the restaurant should comply if they’re able to. However, they’re under no obligation to do so.

For example, if you are eating out at Pizza Hut and request one of the pizza toppings to be removed due to your allergies, the waiting staff could comply if it is possible to do so. Though as we mentioned above, they’re not obligated to do this.

Requests that a customer may make include:

• Please do not include cheese
• Please do not include eggs
• Please do not include wheat
• Please do not include oats
• Please do not include nuts
• Please do not include fish
• Please do not include milk

What happens if the food you order is pre-prepared and the staff cannot remove an ingredient? The waiter or waitress should inform you that the food you have ordered is not suitable for someone who suffers from your allergies and should suggest another type of food.

My Request To Have An Ingredient Left Out Was Ignored

If you can prove the restaurant breached its duty of care, you may have eligibility to claim compensation from them. If you made a request for an ingredient to be removed due to allergies and the waiter or waitress ignored your request, causing you to suffer an allergic reaction to Pizza Hut food, this could be considered negligence on the part of Pizza Hut. Similarly, if you speak to the Pizza Hut staff and tell them that you have a food allergy, they should warn you if the food you have ordered is not safe for someone with your condition. Not doing so, could also be deemed negligence on the part of Pizza Hut. 

If you experienced an allergic reaction to Pizza Hut food as a result of a breach in the duty of care owed by the restaurant, you may be eligible to claim compensation for your injuries.

Restaurant And Takeaway Customer Rights

The Consumer Protection Act 1987 states that if a customer is injured due to a faulty or defective product, the manufacturer will be held liable for their injuries. Pre-packed food at Pizza Hut, which contains ingredients that are not supposed to be present, can be considered a faulty product. If you suffer an allergic reaction because your food contained ingredients that were not supposed to be there, you may be eligible to claim compensation provided you can prove that this was the case. 

For more information on how we can help you, please get in touch with our team.

Restaurants Liability For Failing To Inform Customers Of Potential Allergens

According to the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, business owners are responsible for providing staff and customers with a safe and hygienic environment. Therefore if a customer is injured or made ill because the business breached its duty of care, it could be held liable for any resulting injuries.

The following errors on the part of Pizza Hut could be deemed negligent:

1. The restaurant workers ignored your request to remove an ingredient.
2. The restaurant workers failed to inform you that a type of food you ordered was not suitable for you after you had informed them of your food allergy.
3. The allergenic ingredients of the food were not listed on the menu.
4. The allergenic ingredients of the food were not listed on the packaging of a takeaway item.

If you experience a reaction after eating Pizza Hut for any of the reasons above and can prove that the restaurant breached its duty of care, you may be eligible to claim compensation for your injuries.

I Did Not Tell Pizza Hut About My Allergies, Could I Claim Compensation?

Even if you did not inform the staff at Pizza Hut of your food allergies, you may still be eligible to claim compensation. According to EU directives that are also enforced in the UK, restaurants and other food establishments must take steps to help customers make informed decisions about what they can eat safely. 

One of the most important measures an outlet can take is to list allergenic ingredients on the food packaging and menu in a highlighted manner (for example, displaying the words in bold or red). If they fail to do so, and this leads to a customer suffering an allergic reaction, the restaurant could be held liable for their injuries if the failings of the restaurant can be proven.

If you suffer from a Pizza Hut breadsticks allergy, Pizza Hut cheese allergy or a Pizza Hut egg allergy, and had your allergy triggered because you were misinformed by Pizza Hut, call us today to see if you are eligible to claim compensation.

Pizza Hut Allergen Menu

Is there a Pizza Hut allergen menu available for customers? Pizza Hut food allergy information is available online for its customers. Pizza Hut’s regular menu is available below. The company offers a gluten-free pizza option. We recommend you enquire in store for more information.

Allergens

• Dough
• Soya oil
• Vegetable oil
• Mozzarella cheese
• Cornmeal
• String cheese
• Tomato concentrate

Pizzas

• Meat Feast Pizza
• Hawaiian Pizza
• The G.O.A.T Pizza
• Veggie Pizza
• Margherita Pizza
• Veggie Pepperoni Pizza
• Pepperoni Pizza
• Chicken Supreme Pizza
• Virtuous Veg Flatbread
• BBQ Americano Pizza
• Chicken Delight Flatbread
• BBQ Steak ‘N’ Chicken Flatbread
• Supreme Pizza

Sides

• Southern Fried Nuggets
• Chicken Wings
• Mini Corn On The Cob
• Cheesy Triangles
• Chicken Bites
• Garlic Bread With Mozzarella Cheese
• Onion Rings
• Jalapeno Poppers
• Fried
• Garlic Bread

How Much Could I Claim For An Allergic Reaction At Pizza Hut?

If you are allergic to some pizza ingredients, then it is vital you check the Pizza Hut allergen menu. The necessary information must be made available to you.

In successful allergic reaction claims, you could claim two heads of loss. The amount awarded for the illness caused by an allergic reaction is called general damages. The Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) is a publication that was last updated in 2022 and provides compensation brackets for illness.

The figures from the table below are from the JCG. It’s important to bear in mind that the amounts listed are only to be used as a rough guide as to the value of your claim. The amount awarded will depend on a variety of factors.

Have you suffered an allergic reaction after eating in Pizza Hut? Allergies can have all different types of symptoms and affect your health in different ways. Why not call our advisors to have your food allergic reaction case valued in a no-obligation consultation.

Could I Also Claim For Special Damages?

If you win your compensation claim for an allergy in Pizza Hut UK, you may receive two different types of compensation award. The first head of claim you will receive is general damages, which is normally the larger part of your payout. General damages are awarded to reimburse the injured party for the effect of their injuries on their wellbeing and quality of life.

In addition, claimants can be awarded special damages, which cover the cost of any expenses that they have experienced as a result of being injured. So for example, if you needed to take medication because you suffered from an allergic reaction, you can be reimbursed for the costs of these purchases. Categories of expenses that you could claim back include expenses for medical treatment, reimbursement for loss of income, travel expenses, home adaptation expenses and care expenses.

It’s vital that you keep hold of all receipts as without evidence, you may not be able to claim.

How You Could Be Helped By A Solicitor?

At Legal Expert, we pride ourselves on going above and beyond to help our clients receive the compensation that they are owed. Just read our online solicitor reviews to see how satisfied our previous clients have been with our service.

What can Legal Expert offer you?

• Your solicitor will value your claim accurately, based on your medical report and will negotiate hard on your behalf to win you the optimum amount of compensation you could be owed.
• Your case can be handled as a No Win No Fee compensation claim, meaning that there is less financial risk for you.
• A dedicated solicitor to handle your case, with years of experience handling compensation claims against restaurants.

To begin your accident claim for an allergic reaction after eating at Pizza Hut, call Legal Expert for your free consultation to see how much compensation you could be owed.

No Win No Fee Claims If You Suffered An Allergic Reaction After Eating At Pizza Hut

One advantage of making a compensation claim with Legal Expert is that you will have the chance to have your claim handled on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that there is less financial risk to you. This is because you will only have to pay your solicitors fee if the outcome of your claim is successful

You also won’t be required to pay an upfront solicitors fee or any ongoing fees, and if the claim doesn’t succeed, you won’t have to pay any of the fees your solicitor has incurred in handling your claim. This makes a No Win No Fee claim more affordable for many. 

If you are interested in making a personal injury claim using a No Win No Fee solicitor, you can read our online guide or call us today to speak to an advisor.

Talk To Our Team About A Restaurant Allergy Case

To begin your personal injury claim for an allergic reaction, call Legal expert today on 0800 073 8804. Alternatively, contact us using our online claims form. If we can see that you have grounds to make a claim for an allergic reaction at Pizza Hut UK, a personal injury claims lawyer will start working on your claim promptly.

Resources

Thank you for reading our guide to the service that we can offer if you have an allergic reaction after eating at Pizza Hut. Below, we’ve included some more guides that you may find useful.

How To Sue A Restaurant For An Allergy In The UK

How Much Compensation Can I Claim For An Accident In A Restaurant?

Allergic Reaction After Eating In McDonald’s, Can I Claim Compensation?

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Guide by Chelache

Edited by Billing