Girl who died after eating Pret baguette 'would be proud of law change impact'

The parents of a teenager who died from an allergic reaction after eating a Pret baguette have said their daughter would be “very proud” of how a change in the law is saving lives.

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, from Fulham, west London, died in July 2016 following a severe allergic reaction to sesame baked into the Pret sandwich.

Sesame was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging and the seeds were not visible to the naked eye.

Following her death, Natasha’s parents campaigned for a change in the law to require all food outlets to provide a full ingredients list and allergy labelling for foods made and packaged on the premises for direct sale, such as sandwiches, salads and cakes.

Four years on from the day when the new law was introduced, Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, founders of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said the change was impacting lives.

The charity has called October 1 Natasha’s Day – a time to celebrate the teenager’s “legacy of change”.

Her parents said in a statement: “Natasha’s law gives greater protection to the millions of people in the UK living with food allergies, allowing them to buy food and eat out with greater confidence.

“Everyone should be able to consume food safely. Natasha would be very proud of the ongoing impact Natasha’s law has on the lives of people with food allergies.”

The charity shared stories from people who have been impacted by the law change, including Kitty Clark, 21, who is allergic to eggs, dairy and kiwi fruit.

She said: “Natasha’s Law has changed my life in so many ways – in ways that are seemingly insignificant to most people, but to someone with severe food allergies, these changes make the world of difference.

“The first time I noticed Natasha’s Law had come into effect was when I picked up a box of sushi and noticed that the ingredients were printed on the back.

“Something that would go unnoticed to most but, for me this meant I didn’t have to explain my food allergies to a tired member of staff, check if the food was safe to eat and wonder each time I bought it whether the recipe had changed.

“Seeing the ingredients printed gave me confidence.

“Natasha’s Law changed my relationship with eating food out entirely.

“It has also led to a shift in attitude towards food allergies. Now when I bring up my food allergies in cafes, or to servers, or to new colleagues or new friends, their reactions are no longer one of confusion, but of understanding and awareness.”

Jayden Poole, 17, who has an allergy to milk, said: “Before Natasha’s Law was introduced, my mum would not let me eat anything from bakeries and sandwich shops because the labelling couldn’t be relied on.

“When we went out for the day as a family, we would always have to take a packed lunch for me so we could be sure the food was safe for me to eat.

“Since the introduction of Natasha’s Law, things are much easier. Sandwich shops and bakeries are an option for me now and printed allergy information always makes me feel much safer than relying on staff.

“I can be much more spontaneous and have more freedom to live a normal life safely – I don’t need to plan what I eat in advance, carry food with me at all times, or go home early because I need to eat.”

Jessie Flaum, 22, has life-threatening allergies to eggs, all nuts, all seeds, chocolate, buckwheat, kiwi, and dairy.

She said: “For me, food has never been simple. Something that most people take for granted – grabbing a snack, eating with friends, going to a cafe – has always felt like stepping into danger.

“Even the tiniest trace, the smallest cross-contamination, could send me into a severe, life-threatening reaction. I have grown up feeling that every single piece of food I eat could end up giving me a life-threatening reaction.

“Before Natasha’s Law, eating out was not just difficult, it was almost impossible.

“Menus were vague, packaging rarely gave me the information I needed, and too often I was met with confused stares when I asked staff about ingredients…

“Since Natasha’s Law came into force, something has changed… Clear and honest labelling means I no longer live with the constant fear that the packaged food is hiding something dangerous.”