If you’ve had an allergic reaction after eating at Nando’s, it can be frightening, painful, and confusing. Alongside worrying about your health, you may be asking a very important question: can you make a legal claim, and what are your rights?
This guide explains everything, so you understand where you stand and what you can do next.
Why allergic reactions at restaurants happen
When you eat out, you trust a restaurant to keep you safe. If you live with a food allergy, you may already take precautions like checking ingredients or asking staff questions. Many people rely on the Nando’s allergen menu or ask staff whether a dish contains dairy, nuts, gluten, or other allergens.
Problems arise when:
- the Nando’s allergy menu is incorrect or unclear
- staff misunderstand or ignore your allergy
- food is contaminated during preparation
- allergen information is not properly displayed
If this happens and you become ill, your reaction may not be your fault.
What is a food allergy?
A food allergy happens when your immune system reacts to a certain food as if it were dangerous. This reaction can range from mild discomfort to a life-threatening emergency.
Some people experience symptoms straight away. Others only feel unwell hours later, which can make it hard to understand what went wrong.
Common symptoms of an allergic reaction
Not everyone reacts in the same way, but common symptoms include:
- vomiting or nausea
- swelling of lips, tongue, throat, or face
- skin rashes, hives, or itching
- stomach cramps or diarrhoea
- difficulty breathing or wheezing
- dizziness or fainting
In severe cases, people can suffer anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency requiring urgent treatment.
If you needed hospital care or medical assistance, this strongly supports your case that the reaction was serious.
The most common food allergens in restaurants
Many customers rely on Nando’s allergens information because certain ingredients regularly cause serious reactions. Common allergens include:
- milk and dairy
- eggs
- peanuts and tree nuts
- wheat and gluten
- fish and shellfish
- soya
- sesame
- mustard
UK law requires restaurants to inform customers about 14 specific allergens. This information may appear on menus, an allergen chart, signage, or staff guidance.
If required allergens are missing from the Nando’s menu allergens information, that can amount to negligence.
Your legal rights after an allergic reaction at Nando’s
Restaurants owe you a duty of care. This means they must take reasonable steps to protect you from harm.
You may be able to claim compensation if:
- Nando’s had a duty of care towards you
- that duty was breached (for example, incorrect allergen information)
- you suffered an allergic reaction as a result
If all three apply, your claim may succeed.
What role the Nando’s allergy menu plays
Many people check the Nando’s allergy menu UK before ordering. Others ask servers to confirm ingredients or request changes.
You may have a valid claim if:
- the Nando’s allergens menu listed an item as safe when it wasn’t
- staff gave incorrect advice about allergens
- your request to remove an allergen was ignored
- cross-contamination was not properly disclosed
If the restaurant knew, or should have known, about the risk and failed to act, this can support a claim.
What if you forgot to mention your allergy?
This is a common worry. Each case depends on the facts.
If you did not check the allergen information at all, it may be harder to claim. Customers are expected to take some responsibility for their own safety.
However, if:
- mandatory allergen information was missing
- the menu was misleading
- staff wrongly reassured you
then you may still have a case, even if you did not explicitly warn them.
Time limits for making a claim
In most cases, you have three years from the date of the allergic reaction to start a claim.
There are important exceptions:
- for children, the three-year limit starts when they turn 18
- for people without mental capacity, the time limit may be paused
A parent or representative, called a litigation friend, can bring a claim on behalf of someone who cannot act for themselves.
What compensation could you receive?
Compensation aims to put you, as far as possible, back into the position you would have been in if the incident had not happened.
General damages
These cover:
- pain and suffering
- physical symptoms
- psychological distress, such as anxiety after the reaction
The amount depends on how serious your reaction was and how long the effects lasted.
Special damages
You can also claim for financial losses linked to your reaction, such as:
- loss of earnings if you couldn’t work
- medical costs, prescriptions, or private treatment
- travel expenses to hospital or GP appointments
- care costs if someone had to help you recover
Evidence is important. Keep payslips, receipts, and medical letters wherever possible.
Psychological effects are taken seriously
An allergic reaction can leave you frightened to eat out again. You may feel anxious, stressed, or constantly worried about another reaction.
These emotional effects are recognised under UK law and can be included in your claim if they are properly supported by medical evidence.
How allergen negligence can happen at Nando’s
Claims often arise because of simple but serious mistakes:
- poor staff training
- communication failures between servers and kitchen staff
- outdated or incorrect allergen charts
- shared cooking surfaces causing contamination
If a dish cannot be made safe, the restaurant should tell you clearly. Serving it anyway may amount to negligence.
Why allergen transparency matters
Food allergies are not rare. Millions of people in the UK live with them, and hospital admissions for severe allergic reactions have risen significantly over the years.
This is why accurate Nando’s allergen information is so important. When it fails, the consequences can be severe.
How a No Win No Fee claim works
Many solicitors offer No Win No Fee agreements. This means:
- you pay nothing upfront
- there is no legal fee if your case fails
- fees are only taken from your compensation if you win
This makes the claims process accessible, even if you are worried about money.
What to do now if you had an allergic reaction
If you believe your reaction was caused by incorrect Nando’s allergens information or staff error:
- seek medical attention and keep records
- write down what you ate and what you were told
- keep receipts or bank transaction evidence
- take photos of menus or allergy notices if possible
- speak to a specialist solicitor for tailored advice
Early advice can help protect your rights.
Final thoughts
An allergic reaction at Nando’s is more than just bad luck if it was caused by misinformation or poor food handling. You trust restaurants to take allergies seriously, and when that trust is broken, the law may offer protection.
If you relied on the Nando’s allergy menu, asked the right questions, or should have been warned about allergens, you deserve clear answers and fair treatment.
Understanding your rights is the first step. Taking action can help ensure accountability and, importantly, help prevent similar incidents from happening to others.