Woman in hospital after Soup Restaurant served her seafood despite reminders about allergy

SINGAPORE - A woman was taken to hospital after being served "a little bit" of scallop despite her repeated reminders to restaurant staff members that she is allergic to seafood.

Ms Chee Hui Jin, a graphic designer, ended up spending four hours in the Accident and Emergency unit of Ng Teng Fong General Hospital after experiencing breathlessness and a faster-than-normal heartbeat.

She also had swollen eyes, tongue and neck, and an itch on her skin, and needed an injection to contain her condition.

Recounting her harrowing experience with TODAY, Ms Chee said she was having dinner with her parents at Soup Restaurant's Jurong Point branch on Sunday (June 17) evening.

After informing the waiter about her allergy to seafood, the 27-year-old ordered a dish of spinach with three eggs, and checked repeatedly with the waiter that the dish does not contain any seafood.

However, after Ms Chee tasted the dish, she discovered shreds of scallop in it. When confronted, a waiter denied the presence of seafood and claimed it was just "shredded egg". Ms Chee said she tried to confirm it with another waiter, but her request was "brushed off".

According to Ms Chee, it was when she approached a waiter for the fourth time that the staff member finally checked with the kitchen and admitted that the cook had added "a little bit" of scallop in the dish.

By then, Ms Chee was already suffering from an adverse allergic reaction and went to the hospital.

Ms Chee said this was not the first time she had an allergic reaction when dining out despite her informing restaurant employees of her allergy.

She posted her encounter on her Facebook profile, in hope of raising awareness on food allergies. As of Monday evening, the post was shared more than 1,800 times.

On Monday, Ms Chee said that she is feeling "okay". She added that Soup Restaurant has refunded the cost of her dinner, and paid her medical bill of around S$200.

"They (Soup Restaurant staff members) are really nice and apologetic," she said.

Soup Restaurant said that it has identified severe service lapses on the part of its frontline workers, and the employees involved were called up on Monday morning to explain themselves.

The restaurant chain has also reminded all its outlets on how severe food allergies can be, and to ensure any customers' food allergies are highlighted to the kitchen crew.

NO CURE FOR ALLERGIES YET

Dr Soh Jian Yi, consultant from Division of Paediatric Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology at National University Hospital, said that there is no cure for allergies. However, oral immunotherapy therapy for certain foods has been shown to help patients with allergies.

The most common food allergies arise from consuming peanuts, shellfish and egg.

Symptoms include vomiting, rashes, swelling of face and the narrowing of airways, which causes breathlessness.

It is also possible that an allergy attack be triggered by touching or breathing in an allergen.

Dr Soh advised the public to call for an ambulance immediately when they see someone suffering from a severe allergy attack.

"Individuals with severe food allergy should also carry an adrenaline autoinjector pen with them," Dr Soh added.

"However, they should first ensure they have confirmed the allergies with a specialist and have been trained in how to recognise and handle an allergic reaction."