Disney Sued After Doctor Dies From Food Allergy, Allegedly Checked for Allergens With Staff

The husband of a New York doctor who reportedly passed away from severe food allergies shortly after eating at a Disney Springs restaurant last year filed a lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts in Florida.

The complaint alleges that although Dr. Kanokporn Tangsuan was repeatedly assured the food would be allergy-safe, Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant served her allergen-containing food on October 5.

Disney Sued After NY Doctor Died From Food Allergy

According to a medical examiner's autopsy report cited in the complaint, which was filed in Florida circuit court on Thursday on behalf of her husband, Jeffrey J. Piccolo, Tangsuan passed away that night from a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Tangsuan, Piccolo, and his mother had dinner at the restaurant at Disney Springs, a Disney World shopping and dining complex, on October 5.

The complaint, which names the restaurant and Disney Parks and Resorts defendants, alleges multiple accusations of negligence. It is requesting over $50,000 in damages.

The lawsuit states they decided to eat there since they believed the restaurant could handle her allergies. It claims that Disney and Raglan Road have said that accommodating those with allergies is a top priority and that customers can consult with staff members about specific ingredients.

Tangsuan had serious allergies, so the couple informed their server that she could not eat anything that contained allergens. According to the complaint, the server told them they would prepare allergen-free food if they requested specific items.

Furthermore, the party ordered dishes named "Sure I'm Frittered," "Scallop Forest," "This Shepherd Went Vegan," and "Onion Rings." The complaint claims they were assured "unequivocally" that their food would be allergy-free when asked about allergens "several more times."

The couple asked again when some dishes did not have "allergen-free flags," and their server responded with the same response. At about eight o'clock in the evening, the party split up. The document says Tangsuan stayed at Disney Springs to shop while Piccolo returned to the couple's nearby hotel room.

She started having breathing problems around 8:45 pm, went inside a nearby restaurant, and passed out while suffering from a severe acute allergic reaction to the food served at Raglan.

Tangsuan tried to stop her body's extreme allergic reaction using her EpiPen. The document says she was taken to a hospital by paramedics after a bystander called 911.

Piccolo called her phone, unaware of the situation, but someone else answered and told him what had happened. According to the complaint, he went to the hospital, where personnel informed him that Tangsuan had passed away.

(Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 01: A sign welcomes visitors near an entrance to Walt Disney World on February 01, 2024, in Orlando, Florida. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which Walt Disney Co. said will be appealing its loss in a lawsuit. The case revolves around the Governor taking over Disney's special governing district after Disney opposed Florida legislation that critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”

FDA Authorizes Treatment for Accidental Food Allergy Exposures

Dr. Tom Chacko of Chacko Allergy, Asthma, and Sinus Center suggests Xolair, the recently approved allergy drug by the FDA.

A growing number of individuals with numerous food allergies, aged one and older, can now use Xolair, a medicine that Chacko currently recommends for some of his patients with allergic asthma and chronic hives.

"It's really for people who are worried about accidental exposures," Dr. Chacko says.

He said that people using Xolair still need to take their prescribed epinephrine injectors and avoid the foods that cause their sensitivities. On the other hand, Xolair is designed to lessen the body's allergic reaction if they have an accidental exposure.