The article begins by telling the story of Trevor Gartman’s allergic reaction after eating a pastry from Panera Bread. His mother bought him a supposedly nut-free pastry, but it turns out there was a pecan hidden inside the snack. When the teen showed normal allergic symptoms, they went into the doctor’s office to get him some medication and an epinephrine shot, and his symptoms subsided. However, shortly after he had a more severe reaction that required multiple epinephrine shots and admission into the hospital. Some time after, the mother and son sued a negligence lawsuit against the company that operated that Panera outlet. The trial ended with the jury finding the company guilty of negligence, but also assigned fault to the mother and son duo.
After doing some research, Gartman found that tree nuts were the leading cause of severe allergic reactions that required epinephrine shots in consumers who were dining out, despite them telling staff that they had an allergy. Now, he takes extra care in preventing allergic reactions, from avoiding nuts and carrying EpiPens on him, to informing his professors and providing them with EpiPens. He believes in taking care of mental health after experiencing PTSD from the incident and participates in online peer support groups for people with food allergies like him. The article ends by listing some tips on avoiding allergens when eating out, like asking ahead for accommodations and having a emergency plan on hand.
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