Food allergies are a growing concern in the UK, affecting millions of people each year. If you live with a food allergy, you probably know how careful you have to be every time you order food. But what happens if a restaurant or takeaway gets it wrong? If you have had an allergic reaction to Domino’s Pizza because they failed to handle your allergy properly, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
This guide explains what your legal rights are, what counts as negligence, and what steps you should take if you’ve suffered an allergic reaction after eating at Domino’s.
Understanding Food Allergies in the UK
An allergy happens when your immune system reacts abnormally to a normally harmless food protein. For most people, eating a slice of pizza with cheese or tomato sauce is not a problem. But for someone with a dairy, wheat, or tomato allergy, it could lead to a serious reaction.
Around 21 million people in the UK live with some kind of allergic condition, and a significant number of them have food allergies. For some, the symptoms are mild, such as itching or a rash. For others, the reaction can be life-threatening. The most severe type, known as anaphylaxis, can cause breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, or even death if not treated immediately.
If you suffer from a food allergy, you already take steps to manage it — avoiding certain foods, checking labels, and informing restaurants. But under UK law, food providers also have a legal responsibility to protect you from harm.
The Duty of Care Restaurants Owe You
Every food business, including Domino’s Pizza, has a duty of care towards its customers. This means they must take reasonable steps to ensure the food they sell is safe to eat and that allergen information is clear and accurate.
This duty is supported by several laws, including:
- The Consumer Protection Act 1987, which holds manufacturers and suppliers liable for defective or unsafe products.
- The Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957, which requires businesses to take reasonable care to prevent harm to people visiting their premises.
- Food Information Regulations 2014 (based on EU directives), which require restaurants to provide clear details about 14 major allergens on their menus or packaging.
In simple terms, if Domino’s fails to warn you about allergens, ignores your request to remove certain ingredients, or allows cross-contamination in your food, they may have breached their duty of care.
Common Allergens in Domino’s Pizza
Pizza may seem straightforward, but it contains several ingredients that can cause allergic reactions. Some common allergens you might find in a Domino’s meal include:
- Dairy (cheese, milk, or butter in the dough)
- Wheat or gluten (in the pizza base)
- Eggs (used in dough or sauces)
- Soy (found in some toppings or marinades)
- Tomatoes (a trigger for some people)
- Fish and shellfish (in certain pizzas or sauces)
- Nuts or seeds (in desserts or cross-contaminated surfaces)
Domino’s provides allergen information online and through its app, which allows you to customise ingredients. However, if you make a specific request — for example, “no cheese” or “gluten-free base” — the restaurant must handle your order carefully and clearly warn you if they cannot guarantee it will be allergen-free.
What Counts as Negligence?
To claim compensation successfully, you need to show that Domino’s Pizza acted negligently. In legal terms, negligence means failing to take reasonable care to prevent harm.
Some examples of negligence in a food allergy case include:
- Failure to warn: Staff do not tell you that a dish contains an allergen you have mentioned.
- Ignoring your request: You asked for a topping or ingredient to be removed, but it was still included.
- Cross-contamination: Allergen-free food is prepared with contaminated utensils or surfaces.
- Incorrect information: The restaurant provided wrong or incomplete allergen details.
If one or more of these situations occurred and it led to your allergic reaction, you may have grounds to make a legal claim.
What to Do After an Allergic Reaction
If you have suffered an allergic reaction after eating from Domino’s Pizza, your priority should be your health and safety. Once you’ve received medical care, you can start gathering the evidence needed to support your claim.
Here are the key steps to follow:
1. Seek Medical Attention
Go to a doctor or hospital immediately, even if the symptoms seem mild. Some allergic reactions worsen over time, and a medical report will also serve as evidence later.
2. Gather Evidence
Keep anything that links your illness to the pizza, including:
- The pizza box, receipt, or order confirmation.
- Photos of your food or reaction.
- Medical records and prescriptions.
- Witness statements, if anyone saw the incident.
3. Report the Incident
Inform Domino’s Pizza about what happened and report it to your local authority’s environmental health department. They can investigate hygiene and food safety standards.
4. Contact a Solicitor
Speak to a solicitor who specialises in food allergy or personal injury claims. They can advise whether you have a strong case and guide you through the process. Many law firms handle these cases on a no win, no fee basis, meaning you only pay if your claim succeeds.
Can You Claim Even If You Didn’t Tell Domino’s About Your Allergy?
This is a common question. Ideally, you should always inform a restaurant about your allergy before ordering. However, even if you didn’t, you might still have a valid claim if the restaurant failed to provide clear allergen information.
For example, if a menu or website did not highlight allergens as required by law, or if you were misled by incomplete information, Domino’s could still be held responsible.
How the Law Protects You
UK law aims to protect consumers from unsafe food and misleading information. The Food Information Regulations 2014 make it compulsory for businesses to clearly indicate whether their food contains any of the 14 major allergens, such as milk, eggs, gluten, nuts, or shellfish.
Additionally, under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, you can claim compensation if a product — such as a pizza — is unsafe or contains unintended ingredients that caused harm. This means you can pursue a claim even if the incident wasn’t directly due to staff negligence but rather due to a product defect or contamination.
What Compensation Can You Claim?
If your claim is successful, you can recover two main types of damages: general damages and special damages.
General Damages
These cover the physical and emotional suffering caused by the allergic reaction. For instance:
- Pain, discomfort, and distress from the reaction itself.
- Emotional trauma, such as fear of eating out again.
- Long-term health complications.
Special Damages
These reimburse you for financial losses related to the incident, such as:
- Medical expenses: including treatment and medication.
- Loss of earnings: if you had to take time off work.
- Travel costs: to attend medical appointments.
- Care costs: if you required help during recovery.
Together, these damages ensure you are compensated not just for your pain but also for the impact the reaction has had on your daily life.
How Much Could You Receive?
The amount of compensation varies depending on how severe your reaction was and how long it took you to recover. The following guideline figures, based on personal injury claim assessments, may help you understand the potential range:
| Type of Illness | Severity | Typical Symptoms | Approximate Damages |
| Serious food-related illness | Severe | Pain, fever, hospitalisation, long recovery | £36,000 – £49,000 |
| Moderate illness | Medium | Vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps | £9,000 – £18,000 |
| Mild allergic reaction | Minor | Discomfort, short-term stomach issues | £3,000 – £9,000 |
These figures are only estimates. A solicitor can calculate a more accurate amount after reviewing your medical evidence and financial losses.
Why Evidence Matters
Proving negligence can sometimes be challenging, especially if you ate at home after delivery. That’s why evidence plays a crucial role in your claim. Keep all communication records with Domino’s, such as online chats or emails confirming your order. If you used the Domino’s app to customise your pizza (for example, requesting “no cheese” or “gluten-free base”), screenshots can help show that the company failed to follow your instructions.
The stronger your evidence, the easier it becomes to demonstrate that Domino’s breached their duty of care.
How Long Do You Have to Make a Claim?
In most personal injury cases, including allergic reaction claims, you have three years from the date of the incident to start legal proceedings. However, if the allergic reaction happened to a child, the three-year time limit only begins once they turn 18.
Acting early is always better — it gives your solicitor more time to gather evidence and build a strong case.
Taking Legal Action: What to Expect
When you decide to make a claim, your solicitor will typically:
- Assess your case — checking whether negligence can be proved.
- Gather evidence — including medical reports and witness statements.
- Contact Domino’s or their insurers to notify them of your claim.
- Negotiate a settlement — most cases are resolved without going to court.
If Domino’s denies responsibility or refuses a fair settlement, your solicitor may issue court proceedings. However, this is rare; most cases settle through negotiation once the evidence is clear.
Preventing Future Allergic Reactions
While claiming compensation can help you recover losses, prevention remains the best approach. Here are some tips to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction when ordering from any restaurant or takeaway:
- Always inform the staff about your allergy, even if you’ve ordered before.
- Double-check allergen information on the menu or website.
- Keep a record of your order and any special requests.
- If you’re unsure about an item, ask to speak to the manager before confirming your order.
- Carry your prescribed medication or adrenaline injector if you have one.
Remember, every restaurant has a responsibility to keep customers safe, but communication and caution go a long way.
Final Thoughts
Suffering an allergic reaction after eating Domino’s Pizza can be frightening and disruptive, especially if it wasn’t your fault. UK law gives you the right to seek compensation if the restaurant acted negligently — whether by failing to warn you about allergens, ignoring your request, or providing misleading information.
By understanding your rights, collecting strong evidence, and seeking expert legal advice, you can pursue a fair claim for your suffering and financial losses.
While no amount of compensation can undo the distress of a severe reaction, holding food businesses accountable helps ensure better safety standards for everyone — and peace of mind for people living with allergies.