A customer underwent a terrifying experience when his throat closed up after necking a shot of fresh wheatgrass at a city centre health food store.
Matt Alder, 46, of Handbridge, had hoped the wheatgrass shot consumed at Holland & Barrett’s new Foregate Street store would ease his chronic bowel disease, but instead he broke out in hives and felt close to collapse just moments later. Fortunately, a friendly cafe worker gave him an anti-histamine tablet which quelled the allergic response after about 20 minutes.
Now the former landscaper wants to raise awareness around the need for advice or clear signage about possible allergic reactions prior to the sale of such concentrated shots fearing that ‘without quick-thinking’ such an extreme reaction ‘could result in fatalities’ especially if given to a child.
'My hands and feet were burning'
Recalling what happened, he said: “By the time I had left the shop, by the time I’d got to Marks & Spencers, my hands were burning and then my feet started and it was like flames were licking up my leg, it was that painful and then I noticed the throat. By the time I’d got to the Eastgate Clock, it started really closing up, it felt like there was gravel all the way down the back of my throat.”
As a hay fever sufferer, Matt worked out that anti-histamine tablets may help.
“So, in blind panic, the only place that I know is Caffe Nero because I drink there a lot, so they know me,” he added. “Luckily, James, behind the counter, he had some of his own so I was lucky. I wouldn’t have even wanted to have gone up towards the town hall in case I dropped, it was getting that serious. Of course, the panic takes over as well.”
Matt, whose face was ‘red as a beetroot’, felt better after sitting outside in the breeze for 20 minutes but it took the rest of the day for the symptoms to clear up.
A carer for his sister, who has MS, Matt had decided to visit the health food store on Sunday after online research suggested wheatgrass may ease his ulcerative colitis, the serious digestive condition from which he suffers.
No blame
He said: “I went to get the powdered version to mix into fruit juice, so it would not have been as concentrated. As I was buying it a lady came up and asked me if I needed any help. I said ‘No, this is the one I’m after’.
She pointed out other ones that were similar like barley grass, all these other green things, and literally said ‘Oh, we do shots over there’. I thought it’s fresh, that’ll be the best. I thought it can’t harm, didn’t even think about any possible reaction and nothing was said to me.”
Matt, who paid his £2.50 at the smoothie bar, continued: “They had to get it out of a tray and pour it into a shot glass and you consume it and that’s it. There wasn’t a word said, which, considering there are peanut allergies and whatever, it should be noted that some people react to that. And they’re in that game.”
Matt, who insists he is not motivated by ‘naming and blaming’, wonders if he is allergic to the chlorophyll within the wheatgrass, recalling a previous but much milder experience which caused itching inside his mouth when he ate a rocket and crayfish tail salad.
He concluded: “I would just like for it to be properly signed – ‘if you have got allergies, consult your doctor before consuming’ or whatever.”
The company responds
Holland & Barrett replied to Matt in response to an email he sent to customer services.
A spokeswoman told him: “Our customer service advisers include nutritionists and they are trained in the use of the products we sell. However, they are not medically qualified; nor do they have access to your medical history. You should therefore obtain the advice of your GP or a pharmacist, particularly if you are taking any existing medication.”
Matt has since been offered vouchers but told them he wasn’t interested as his aim was raise the matter as a health issue.
In a statement, a spokesperson told The Chronicle: “We are aware of a customer who discovered they had an allergy or intolerance after trying wheatgrass for the first time in-store. We do have advisory signs inviting people with known allergies or intolerances to ask staff before buying or sampling products and are happy to help advise the customer on how he can avoid allergy triggers in the future.”
