Firm Sold Product with Nuts to Allergic Customer — A Mistake That Could Have Been Avoided
A Derby business owner has been fined over £7,200 after a serious allergen error led to a 14-year-old girl suffering an allergic reaction and needing hospital treatment.
According to BBC News July 2025, Samantha Brauner, owner of Smalls Kitchen, supplied protein balls that contained undeclared nuts, despite repeatedly assuring the customer that they were “nut-free”.
The customer had specifically stated they had a nut allergy, and relied on the business’s verbal confirmation that the product was safe. Unfortunately, it was not.
Brauner pleaded guilty to:
Supplying unsafe food with undeclared allergens
Selling food not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser
She was fined £1,920, ordered to pay £4,515 in costs, and a £768 victim surcharge, totalling £7,203. Derby City Council confirmed she narrowly avoided a custodial sentence.
Councillor Shiraz Khan, cabinet member for regulatory services, described the case as a “serious reminder” of the responsibility food businesses carry when it comes to allergy safety.
Had the business used Allergen Checker, this entire incident could likely have been prevented.
Here’s how:
Ingredients and allergens would have been stored centrally
The presence of nuts would have been clearly flagged
A QR code could have been added to labels or packaging, giving the customer instant access to verified allergen and ingredient data
That same QR code could have been printed on marketing materials, product cards, or even the company website
Allergen icons and labels could have been printed or shared, free of charge, directly from the platform
With Allergen Checker, the correct allergen data is available in seconds — not based on memory or assumptions.
What makes this case especially relevant is that Smalls Kitchen was a small operation — like many others across the UK.
That’s exactly why Allergen Checker offers a completely free plan:
Add up to 50 dishes
Create one menu
Generate QR codes
Download allergen labels and icons
Ensure your food is clearly marked and fully traceable
Whether you’re selling protein balls, traybakes, sandwiches or smoothies — if you’re not confident in your allergen controls, you’re risking lives and your business.
When a customer asks, “Does this contain nuts?”, they’re putting their health and often their life in your hands. You need more than just confidence. You need a system that gives you certainty.
This case is a wake-up call. But it’s also a reminder that help is available and it doesn’t have to cost you a thing.
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