THE six year prison sentence handed down to restaurant owner Mohammed Zaman following the death of customer Paul Wilson should serve as a stark warning to all involved in the food industry about the seriousness of nut allergies.

Mr Wilson died of severe anaphylactic shock after eating a chicken tikka masala takeaway from Zaman's Indian Garden restaurant in Easingwold.

A court heard that 38-year-old pub manager Mr Wilson had been meticulous about stressing his food should contain no nuts. The takeaway carton found on his kitchen table was clearly marked 'no nuts'.

But, despite warnings from suppliers, Zaman had swapped almond powder in recipes for cheaper groundnut mix which contained peanuts, the court heard.

Just weeks before Mr Wilson died, a teenage customer at another of Zaman's restaurants had suffered an allergic reaction which required hospital treatment.

Zaman was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence, and six food safety offences.

This was an extremely complex case and the police and prosecutors who brought it to a successful conclusion deserve real credit. But the verdict and sentence send out a clear warning signal.

Zaman appears to have been utterly cavalier about the risks he was taking with customers' lives, all to save money. Other restaurateurs will no doubt think twice before cutting corners in a similar way in future. Lives may well be saved as a result.

None of which will bring Paul back. "But it is our sincere hope that his death will raise awareness in the food industry, so that this never happens again," his mother Margaret said.

We hope so too.