Chef with Nut Allergy Deemed Disabled

Under the Equality Act 2010, a person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a ‘substantial’ and ‘long-term’ adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

In Wheeldon v Marstons plc, at a preliminary hearing the Employment Tribunal ruled that a chef with a potentially life-threatening nut allergy is disabled for the purposes of the Act and his discrimination claim against his employer can therefore proceed.