Allergic youth ill after Swedish embassy lunch
Published: 30 Jul 09 07:59 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/20992/20090730/
Several young people with food allergies become ill on Wednesday following a luncheon at the Swedish embassy in Berlin.
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“A few hours after the luncheon people began throwing up,” 18-year-old Henrik Tornberg, one of three Swedes who attended the meal, told the Dagens Nyheter (DN) newspaper.
“Everyone thought it was strange; we had filled out forms requesting gluten-free food.”
But the banquet, which had been organized by the Swedish Celiac Youth Society (SCUF), featured pasta made from spelt, a grain related to common wheat which contains moderate amounts of gluten.
While Swedish press reports indicated that around ten young people became ill following the lunch, a statement from SCUF claimed that all 60 attendees became sick.
One girl from Spain even began throwing up blood and was forced to seek care at a nearby hospital.
The menu oversight caused the head of SCUF, Rosita Persson, to demand an apology from the embassy.
“We see this as incredible insulting, for all of the young people who are suffering, our organization, and the Swedish celiac researchers who have such a good reputation in Europe,” Persson said in a statement.
While Sweden’s ambassador in Berlin, Ruth Jacoby, said she regretted the incident, she added that the embassy wasn’t to blame.
“The canteen is operated by a private company and is open for the general public, but I had been convinced that they could handle food allergies,” Jacoby to Sveriges Television (SVT).
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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"The canteen is operated by a private company and is open for the general public, but I had been convinced that they could handle food allergies," Jacoby to Sveriges Television (SVT).
Yet Again,
Why is it that people who are in charge can not take responsibility for their actions? The buck stops here, Jacoby was put in charge of arranging the right food. If she contracted a catering company and they didnt deliver she is just as responsible.
The embassy ordered gluten free food from a professional catering company and didn't get it - so how is the person who ordered the gluten free meals to blame? Or did you expect and Ambassador to personally put an apron on and cook dinner herself? lol
If you order a gluten free meal in a restaurant and they give you food with gluten in and your sick - does this mean that you are to blame for ordering it?
However I do find the catering company's choice to serve pasta at such an event very strange as most types of pasta are fraught with difficulty for those on a gluten free diet - the best kind that is rice based is very gloopy and sticky and probably difficult to serve at a mass catering event - I''m not quite sure why they did not stick to a more "Swedish" menu of meat/fish with potatoes
I am afraid I am unable to read your full text as I cannot clink on the link to read the full text.
Yes the catering company share some responsibility, however I am tired of people passing the buck and not taking responsibility for their actions (aka the swedish teflon effect).
Fact : The Swedish embassy put on a lunch, they were responsible to oversee the operation. If anything goes wrong they are the people who were in charge to oversee and make sure all the needs were put into place. If they outsourced anything, thats there responsibility.
Just because you outsource something doesn't mean you can avoid any blame.
I think they have equal blame really. The firm should have known not to offer these items as part of the meal and the Embassy should have followed it up.
Also the Swedish press are reporting that the Ambassador herself is allergic to gluten - so the catering company should be well versed in the needs of gluten allergy - and given that the company provided gluten free food on a daily basis within the embassy - why would she assume that they couldn't for this dinner?
Regardless if this is a department, a sub sourced group, A mates friend etc .... The Embassy were in charge for arranging this meal, and the failure lies with Ruth Jacoby for not ensuring or following up to make sure the menu meets with the needs of the children.
It would have been much better had Ruth Jacoby simply apologized and then stated what corrective actions were taken. But as you said byke, persons in authority here always have to point out who they think is really to blame. I haven't seen this much "saving face" since I lived in Korea.
According to the Swedish coeliac association's own website the Ambassador did apologise and has contacted everyone taken ill personally to apologise
In the US, there is not a single national celiac support organization, nor the American Dietetic Association, nor the National Institute of Health nor the FDA that would ever place Spelt as being safe or tolerated by someone with celiac disease.
its just like having disability you will always avaoid that you cannot do and dnt say you failed for separate food.anyways sorry and get well soon