A tragic incident occurred in Rome where a 14-year-old British girl with a peanut allergy lost her life while on holiday with her family. The young girl had eaten at a pizzeria in the Gianicolense district and experienced anaphylactic shock shortly after returning to their hotel. Reports suggest that she had consumed a dessert containing traces of peanuts in dried fruit, leading to her untimely death upon arrival at San Camillo hospital. Her father also suffered from shock and had to be hospitalized due to heart problems.
This devastating event took place during the family’s first meal in Rome, as they had planned tours to visit the Colosseum and Vatican Museums during their stay. The British embassy has stated that they are providing support to the family of the deceased British child and are cooperating with local authorities to investigate the matter further. It remains unclear whether the restaurant was aware of the girl’s severe allergy.
In Italy, it is standard procedure to launch a manslaughter inquiry against unidentified individuals in such cases. Authorities will be inspecting the restaurant for any traces of peanuts or other types of dried fruit that may have been present in the dishes served. This heartbreaking incident comes almost a decade after the tragic death of seven-year-old British boy, Cameron Wahid, who had a dairy allergy and passed away after consuming pasta made with milk during a family holiday on the Amalfi coast.
Cameron’s family fought a lengthy legal battle against the Margherita Villa Giuseppina restaurant, where the allergic reaction occurred. In 2019, a waiter named Ester Di Lascio was found guilty of culpable manslaughter and received a two-year suspended sentence, while the restaurant’s chef, Luigi Cioffi, was acquitted of any wrongdoing. The family was awarded compensation of £288,000 for their loss.
The mother of Cameron Wahid expressed the profound impact of his death, describing it as “the worst day of our lives.” These heartbreaking incidents shed light on the importance of raising awareness about food allergies and the necessity for restaurants to take necessary precautions to prevent such tragic outcomes. Let us remember these young lives lost too soon and work towards ensuring the safety and well-being of individuals with severe allergies in our communities.
