London, Jan 17 (Daily Mail) : A maths student who died after an allergic reaction enjoying a meal at a burger bar with friends is thought to have told staff of her intolerances before eating, an inquest heard.

Shahida Shahid, 18, was taken to intensive care when she collapsed in Manchester city centre after eating at trendy eatery restaurant Almost Famous last Friday night. She died three days later.

Initial tests revealed the cause of death was brain damage caused by a severe allergic reaction.

Miss Shahid, who had a number of food allergies and was asthmatic, told staff of her dietary requirements and they advised her that a chicken dish would be appropriate, police understand.

But the dish is thought to have contained, or was cooked in, one of the ingredients to which she was allergic, DI Chris Flint, of Greater Manchester Police, told the inquest yesterday.

Miss Shahid, a first-year student at the University of Manchester, collapsed at 8.30pm on Friday. Unlike many allergic reactions, however, Miss Shahid did not suffer from symptoms immediately.

She and friends ate in the city's Great Northern Warehouse shopping centre and paramedics were only called when she reached The Printworks, another shopping centre half a mile away.

Manchester Coroner's Court heard how Miss Shahid, from Salford, Manchester, suffered 'irreversible and unsurvivable' brain damage and died three days later.

DI Flint said: 'We understand, although it is not entirely clear, that she indicated to waiting staff what her allergies were and what meal would be appropriate for her.

The post-mortem examination revealed the provisional cause of death was hypoxic encephalopathy (damage caused to the brain by oxygen starvation) due to anaphylaxis - a severe allergic reaction.

DI Flint told the inquest that the force had launched a joint-investigation into the incident with the Food Standards Agency.

He said laws surrounding information that businesses have to provide to people with allergies had changed last month - and Almost Famous was 'aware' of this.

Coroner Nigel Meadows said the investigation into Shahida's death, despite being in its early stages, was a 'timely reminder' to the food industry about the significance of providing information to customers with food allergies.

He added: 'The law has relatively recently changed and new regulations came into force in August and more new EU regulations in December.
'This case clearly serves as a timely reminder to the food industry regarding these requirements.'

Friends of Shahida, who attended the local Walkden High School and Winstanley College, paid tribute to the teenager on social media, describing her as 'beautiful, brilliant and kind'.

Miss Shahid, who had a number of food allergies and was asthmatic, told staff at Almost Famous (above) of her dietary requirements and they advised her that a chicken dish would be appropriate, police understand.