Thailand diner: ‘Shrimp paste nearly killed me’
Thai man with allergy carries adrenaline with him for emergencies
A Thai man with a severe allergy says he nearly died at a popular Bangkok restaurant after being served a dish containing shrimp paste, despite clearly warning the staff he was allergic.
Yesterday, June 17, Facebook user Chayutpol Sukkaew shared a harrowing account of his near-death experience at the well-known Bangkok eatery. His post, which has since gone viral, urges restaurants across Thailand to take allergens seriously, especially if the country wants to become the “world’s kitchen.”
“This is not about blaming anyone. I want this to be a lesson,” he wrote. “I’m not angry at the restaurant, but food allergies are life-threatening. We need proper awareness.”
Chayutpol, who survived a previous anaphylactic shock and carries injectable adrenaline, had just been discharged from the hospital weeks earlier. While dining with relatives, he informed the restaurant that he could not eat shrimp under any circumstances. The staff reportedly acknowledged the warning.
“I triple-checked,” he wrote. “I asked which dishes contained shrimp. We ordered carefully.”
Among the dishes was squid stir-fried in black sauce. It wasn’t marked with a shrimp symbol on the menu, nor was he told it contained shrimp paste.
“One bite in, I could feel the reaction begin. My voice trembled. I asked the waiter, ‘Is there shrimp in this?’ They replied: ‘It contains shrimp paste.’ Everyone at the table froze.”
Chaos broke out as his allergic reaction worsened. Fortunately, a relative who is a doctor was with him. They ran to the car for the adrenaline injector and administered two emergency doses.
“My heart rate shot to 153 beats per minute. I thought I was going to die, again.”
After he was stabilised, the man was rushed to hospital, where doctors confirmed the incident could have been fatal without immediate treatment, reported MGR Online.
Chayutpol said he holds no grudge, but urged restaurants to label menus clearly and train staff on allergen awareness.
“Shrimp paste is shrimp. If I had died, it wouldn’t just affect my family, your business would face serious consequences.”
He ended his post with a message to fellow allergy sufferers:
“Never leave home without your meds. And never assume the kitchen knows best.”
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