Salmon tartare case has cooking school taking new measures for food allergies

The case of a Quebec waiter who mistakenly served salmon tartare to a man with a seafood allergy is having reverberations in the city where it happened, even though prosecutors decided not to lay charges.

Instructors at the professional trainingacademy the waiter attended are trying out a new approach: serving customers with allergies a different coloured plate at the in-school restaurant.

SteveBeauchemin, who teaches at the school, called Centre24-Juin, said he's relieved the waiter won't be charged.But he said the mishap has made everyone nervous.

"We're a little on edge," he said.

"In the kitchen, we always have people's lives in our hands."

• Quebec waiter won't be charged

The school already has a system in place wherebymeat, fishand fruits and vegetables each get their own coloured cutting board.

The system has made its way into some of the restaurants in the region.

Simon-PierreCanuel, a34-year-old Gatineau resident,was treatedfor anaphylactic shock after eating atLe TapageurrestaurantMay 29.

Canuel saidhe ordered beef tartarebutwasserved salmontartareinstead.Canuelsaid hehadtold the waiter he was allergic to salmon and seafood.

On Wednesday, the office of Quebec'sdirector of criminal and penal prosecutions saidit had determined thatthe waiter did not commit a crime.

The casegenerated heated debateabout the rights andresponsibilitiesof restaurant staffand those of people withfood allergies.

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