Takeaway bosses guilty over death of allergy girl, 15
TWO men have been found guilty of the manslaughter of a 15-year-old girl who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a takeaway meal.
Business owner Mohammed Abdul Kuddus, 40, and Harun Rashid, 38, had denied manslaughter by gross negligence at Manchester Crown Court.
Megan Lee died after eating food from the takeaway on December 30, 2016.
Her family were in tears in the public gallery as the two men, both Bangladeshi nationals, were found guilty.
The court was told that Megan's friend ordered the meal in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, through the Just Eat website and wrote “prawns, nuts” in the allergies and notes section.
But the meal, which included an onion bhaji, a seekh kebab and a Peshwari naan, was later found to have the “widespread presence” of peanut protein.
Megan had an immediate reaction and died two days later after suffering irreversible brain damage from a severe asthma attack.
In January 2017, the restaurant was closed by Trading Standards.
Peter Wright, QC, prosecuting, said Megan's death was a “disaster waiting to happen”.
The court heard there was a “litany of failings” in the kitchen, including poor hygiene and no records of any ingredients kept.
Rashid, of Haslingden, Lancashire, was also found guilty of failing to discharge a general duty of employers, contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act, and another count of failing to maintain procedures, in contravention of EU food safety regulations. Kuddus, of Blackburn, had already pleaded guilty to those charges on behalf of himself and Royal Spice Takeaway.
The two men were released on bail and will be sentenced on November 7.