A tragedy unfolded at a Disney Springs restaurant, leading to a devastating loss for a New York family and sparking a conversation about responsibility and care in the food and hospitality industry.
Kanokporn Tangsuan, a 42-year-old medical doctor from NYU Langone in New York, visited Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs with her family on October 5, 2023. things quickly turned to tragedy after their meal when Dr. Tangsuan suffered a deadly allergic reaction.
Jeffrey Piccolo, Dr. Tangsuan’s husband, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, alleging negligence in failing to properly train their staff about food allergies. The lawsuit claims that despite Dr. Tangsuan’s severe allergies to dairy and nuts, and the family’s diligent efforts to communicate these allergies to their server, the assurances they received about the safety of their food were tragically misguided.
The family had chosen Disney, believing in its reputation for accommodating guests with special dietary needs. They specifically inquired about allergen-free options, and according to the lawsuit, were assured by their waiter—after consultation with the chef—that their food choices would be safe. Dr. Tangsuan ordered several dishes, including “Sure I’m Frittered,” “Scallop Forest,” “The Shepherd Went Vegan,” and “Onion Rings,” all of which, under the impression of safety, were consumed without worry.
However, the joy of their meal was short-lived. Within minutes of their dining experience, Dr. Tangsuan began experiencing a severe allergic reaction, leading to anaphylaxis—a life-threatening condition that resulted in her untimely death. The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system, substances she had diligently tried to avoid.
The lawsuit emphasizes a lack of staff training and that staff gave the couple the assurance that allergen-free food because the request was not casual it was necessary.
After eating her meal around 8 pm Tangsuan began to feel the effect of the allergic reaction at 8:45 pm. She collapsed on the floor inside Planet Hollywood after self-administering an epi-pen. She was taken to the hospital and sadly passed away.
A medical examiner investigated the death and determined that it was the result of anaphylaxis due to elevated levels of dairy and nut in her system.
