diff --git a/apps/frontend/src/components/forms/requestFormModal.tsx b/apps/frontend/src/components/forms/requestFormModal.tsx
index 1e1d1ad3..b032e42c 100644
--- a/apps/frontend/src/components/forms/requestFormModal.tsx
+++ b/apps/frontend/src/components/forms/requestFormModal.tsx
@@ -52,13 +52,17 @@ const FoodRequestFormModal: React.FC<FoodRequestFormModalProps> = ({
   const isFormValid = requestedSize !== '' && selectedFoodTypes.length > 0;
 
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (isOpen && previousRequest) {
-      setSelectedFoodTypes(previousRequest.requestedFoodTypes || []);
-      setRequestedSize(previousRequest.requestedSize || '');
-      setAdditionalNotes(
-        previousRequest.additionalInformation ||
-          'No additional information supplied',
-      );
+    if (isOpen) {
+      if (previousRequest) {
+        setSelectedFoodTypes(previousRequest.requestedFoodTypes || []);
+        setRequestedSize(previousRequest.requestedSize || '');
+        setAdditionalNotes(previousRequest.additionalInformation || '');
+      } else {
+        setSelectedFoodTypes([]);
+        setRequestedSize('');
+        setAdditionalNotes('');
+      }
+      setAlert({ isError: true, message: '' });
     }
   }, [isOpen, previousRequest]);