CAMPAIGNERS have called for greater awareness of food allergies in the catering industry after an Indian restaurant owner was jailed for the manslaughter of a customer who had a severe nut allergy.

On Monday, Mohammed Zaman, 53, from York, was jailed for six years after being found guilty of causing the death of peanut allergy sufferer Paul Wilson, from Helperby, near Thirsk, who ate a contaminated curry at one of his businesses.

Mr Wilson's death came just months after that of 31-year-old landscape gardener and nut allergy sufferer Derek Stephenson, of Stanhope, County Durham. He had suffered a fatal reaction after eating a "no nuts" curry from Memsahib takeaway, in Tow Law.

Det Insp Shaun Page, the senior investigating officer in Mr Wilson's case, said he had been astonished by the prevalence of allergen deaths and life-threatening incidents that occurred throughout the UK on a regular basis, and the devastating impact of such incidents on people's lives.

"Recent figures suggest that half-a-million people up to the age of 44 have a peanut allergy and it is likely that half of these cases are severe," said Det Insp Page. "The increase in peanut allergy has been extraordinary. Research shows a 117.3 per cent increase in the prevalence of peanut allergy from 2001 to 2005."

Campaign group, Allergy Action, believes about one in 50 Britons are affected, and many with the allergy manage it by avoiding certain types of eateries.

Its founder, Hazel Gowland, said Mr Wilson's case would startle many with the condition, as he had bought food from what was perceived to be a high-end restaurant.

She said she feared the food labelling legislation, brought in to protect allergy sufferers months after Mr Wilson's death, would fail to stop serious food allergy incidents.

Following the investigation into Zaman, North Yorkshire Trading Standards service embarked on a project that resulted in the testing of 47 food retail premises to find out if similar malpractice was widespread in North Yorkshire.

Officers made unannounced test purchases requesting a peanut-free takeaway, resulting in four prosecutions relating to premises where there was found to be non-compliance with levels of peanuts in meals described as “nut-free”.

Leon Livermore, chief executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, said: “Every year about ten people in the UK die from allergic reactions and many more end up in hospital.

“In most cases the food is from a restaurant, but in each case harm is entirely avoidable. This tragic case highlights the importance of following advice and what can happen when it is ignored."

Mr Wilson's parents are optimistic the prosecution of Zaman over their son's death will serve as a warning to food suppliers.

"Nothing can bring Paul back," Mrs Wilson said, "but it is our sincere hope that his death will raise awareness in the food industry, so that this never happens again. We also ask anyone with a food allergy to always be aware.”