Student with dairy allergy died after eating chicken burger
A STUDENT with a severe dairy allergy died after eating a chicken burger that had been marinated in buttermilk, an inquest heard.
Shahida Shahid, 18, from Worsley, Salford, was out with friends when she became suddenly ill and collapsed, just minutes after the meal at Almost Famous in Manchester.
A friend administered her epi-pen to combat the allergic reaction and she was rushed to hospital. But the teenager, studying at Manchester University, suffered severe brain damage “not compatible with life”, a jury at the inquest was told.
Shahida died in hospital on Jan 12 2015, three days after eating at the restaurant, the inquest at Manchester Coroner’s Court heard.
Sally Hadfield, assistant deputy coroner for Manchester, outlined the case to the jury of the six women and five men at the start of the hearing, which is expected to last eight days.
Shahida’s family, her mother and brother, represented by lawyers, sat at the back of the court, behind lawyers for the restaurant and Manchester City Council, responsible for inspecting restaurants.
The court heard Shahida studied at Walkden High School and Winstanley College in Wigan and was in her first year studying mathematics. She went out for a meal with friends in Manchester over the Christmas holidays. While at Almost Famous on Deansgate, she ordered and ate the chicken burger that had been marinated in buttermilk.
The coroner continued: “We will hear evidence she gave a description of her allergies and hear from some witnesses as to what the restaurant did with that information.
“She ate the chicken burger and at the time did not feel any effect but walked up towards the Printworks at around 8pm, and suddenly felt the effect of her allergy. She began to feel ill and collapsed.”
Although a friend administered her epi-pen that she carried with her, she did not recover after suffering severe brain injuries and died three days later.
Ms Hadfield said the main issues for the jury to consider are how she came to eat a burger marinated in dairy produce, what was discussed with restaurant staff and evidence about the epi-pen. The first witness, Dr Sharmin Shahid, Shahida’s sister and a GP, said her sister had allergies, avoiding food including dairy, eggs, fish and nuts.
Dr Shahid said as a “bossy” older sister, she taught her sibling when out for meals to tell the waiter about her allergies and agreed her sister was confident and was “very good at being vocal” talking to restaurant staff about what she could not eat.
Rasel Shahid, the teenager’s brother, said he had been out for meals with his sister “countless” times and she would ask restaurant staff “very thoroughly” about menus in relation to her allergy.
The inquest was adjourned and will reopen today.