Customer Suffers Severe Allergic Reaction After Receiving Shrimp Instead of Chicken from Popular Israeli Restaurant
Alon Boldo, a regular customer of the Nishi restaurant in Netanya, experienced a severe allergic reaction after ordering his usual chicken cashew dish but receiving shrimp instead. Upon tasting the meal, Boldo noticed a fishy flavor and discovered shrimp, to which he is highly allergic, hidden under the dish's coating. Despite continuing to eat initially, he soon developed swelling lips, itching, hives, and throat constriction, prompting him to stop eating and seek medical help.
Boldo immediately contacted Maccabi Health Services, which dispatched an ambulance and emergency medical teams, including a mobile intensive care unit, to his home. The paramedics treated him on-site and recommended hospital transfer, which he refused due to fear of infection. He described the experience as a "death-like" event, with severe breathing difficulties and anxiety.
The restaurant admitted to a kitchen error where a chef mistakenly fried shrimp instead of chicken. They apologized and offered Boldo a refund of 225 shekels, the cost of the meal, which he rejected as insufficient compensation for the trauma and health risks he endured. Following unsatisfactory responses from the restaurant, Boldo filed a lawsuit demanding 200,000 shekels for damages caused by the allergic incident.
Boldo reported ongoing anxiety and sleep difficulties after the event and hopes his case raises awareness among restaurateurs about the importance of food safety and allergen management. The restaurant stated it follows strict health regulations and is willing to engage in respectful dialogue but disputes some of Boldo's claims.
Summary: Alon Boldo suffered a serious allergic reaction after receiving shrimp instead of chicken from Nishi restaurant in Netanya, leading to emergency medical treatment and a 200,000-shekel lawsuit against the restaurant for negligence and inadequate compensation.
