22/10/2026
A young man went on holiday. He asked about a food allergy. He was reassured it was safe. And he never came home. 💘
24-year-old British tourist Harry Kitto suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction after eating churros in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Harry had a peanut allergy and had asked café staff, in both English and Spanish, whether the churros contained peanuts. He was reportedly told firmly that they did not.
But they did. And, unfortunately, Harry died as a consequence.
This tragedy raises questions that everyone working in food preparation, catering, hospitality and food retail needs to consider.
Do you know your responsibilities when it comes to allergen management❓
It's not enough to know which ingredients contain allergens. Food businesses must also take cross-contamination seriously, provide accurate allergen information and ensure staff know how to respond to questions about allergens.
And when someone asks whether a food is safe for them to eat, guessing is not good enough. Reassuring a customer without reliable information can have devastating consequences…
Allergen management isn't just about compliance. It involves:
⚠️ A moral responsibility — customers trust you with their safety.
⚠️ A legal responsibility — food businesses must comply with food safety and allergen information requirements.
⚠️ A financial responsibility — failures can lead to enforcement action, legal claims and significant costs, as well as lasting damage to a business's reputation.
Above all, behind every allergen procedure is a real person. Someone's child. Someone's partner. Someone's friend.
So, if you work with food, ask yourself:
❓ Would every member of your team know how to answer an allergen question safely?
❓ Do you have effective procedures to prevent cross-contamination?
❓ Is your allergen management training adequate, relevant and up to date?
At Pochat Training, we offer practical, engaging Ofqual Regulated and CPD-accredited training courses to help people understand food allergens and how to manage them responsibly.
Because allergen management should never be treated as just another box to tick.
It could be the difference between someone enjoying a meal and a family losing someone they love.
📩 Get in touch to find out about our Food Allergens training.
Read the BBC report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9gkvz7vjjv3o
Harry Kitto, from Falmouth, died in Argentina after eating a churro with peanuts despite checks.
