A teenager died from a severe allergic reaction after eating pancakes at a Minnesota restaurant, which his family is now suing after the server allegedly told them the pancakces were dairy-free.
Doctors said 16-year-old Scott Johnson, of Bemidji city, went into anaphylactic shock after eating two pancakes during an outing with his mother, brother and two sisters at the Minnesota Nice Café in June 2014, WTVR reported.
Johnson, who was allergic to dairy since birth, was airlifted to a hospital in Fargo where he died a few days later.
"Hardest thing for me was I didn't even get to talk to him," said Scott's father Steve, who was two hours away at his construction job and wasn't able to join his family at the restaurant.
Scott's family always took precaution when it came to his diet, double checking any food bought and rarely dining out. Even a hint of dairy could send him to the hospital, WTVR reported.
They took a chance eating at Minnesota Nice Café.
According to the lawsuit, Scott's mother Cindy Johnson asked the server if the pancakes, listed as gluten-free, were also dairy-free. The server allegedly confirmed they were dairy-free after checking with the cook.
Johnson also told staff the grill needed to be cleaned before the cook made the pancakes for her son, the lawsuit said according to the station. Scott ate his food in front of his family.
"He had just finished and he said 'we have to go now,' " Johnson told the station.
Scott didn't bring his EpiPen that day, so the Johnsons rushed home to treat him there. When it didn't work, his mother called 911.
The anaphylactic reaction caused Scott's heart to fail and he died three days later.
"I miss him just as much today as the day after," his mother told the station.
Scott's parents said they are sharing their story to possibly spare another family from the unexpected heartache.
"Things you wouldn't even imagine have dairy in them," Johnson told WCCO.
Minnesota Nice Café declined to comment while the lawsuit is pending.
