Tragic food allergy deaths will be prevented with the introduction of ‘Natasha’s Law’ today.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse’s parents have campaigned for retailers to list all ingredients on food packaging after their daughter died eating a Pret sandwich in 2016.
The 15-year-old went into anaphylactic shock abroad a British Airways flight following a severe allergic reaction to hidden sesame seeds baked into dough.
She suffered multiple cardiac arrests, despite two Epi-pens being administered, and later died in a French hospital.
Natasha and her dad had painstakingly checked the label as they knew she was allergic to milk, eggs, banana, nuts and sesame seeds.
But a loophole meant Pret and other firms were not required to provide a full list of allergens on products made in their stores.
A coroner ruled in 2018 Natasha wouldn’t have eaten the baguette – and may still be here today – if it was properly labelled.
Five years after the devastating loss, mum Tanya, 54, and dad Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, 56, are celebrating Natasha’s Law coming into effect.
The new legalisation will require more pre-packaged food like takeaway sandwiches, cakes and salads to have their full ingredients and allergy details listed.
The changes apply to businesses selling their own pre-packaged food at other outlets they run – including market stalls and mobile food vans.
It will offer another much-needed layer of protection to the two million food allergy sufferers across Britain.
Hospital admissions caused by food allergies have tripled over the last 20 years, according to new research by the British Medical Journal.
Natasha’s parents – who were both awarded OBEs in the last New Year’s Honours list – said she would be ‘very proud’.
Nadim said: ‘This change in the law brings greater transparency about the foods people are buying and eating; it will give people with food allergies confidence when they are buying pre-packaged food for direct sale such as sandwiches and salads. Everyone should be able to consume food safely.’
Remembering how his daughter loved to fight injustice, he said: ‘She’d have been like a lit match; on fire, working on all fronts.
‘She’d always take the side of the person being bullied, for whatever the reason, rather than doing nothing.
‘She’d get really annoyed and angry about injustice. She’d say, “how can companies or people do such things to other people?”’
Tanya has warned more still needs to be done to protect allergy sufferers and prevent avoidable deaths.
She added: ‘Natasha was always extremely careful to check the food labels and until that terrible day in 2016 hadn’t had a severe allergic reaction for over nine years.
‘Nothing can bring Natasha back, and we have to live with that reality every day, but we know in our hearts that Natasha would be very proud that a new law in her name will help to protect others.
‘Natasha was a very public-spirited young woman – she wanted to make a difference, so this feels like a fitting tribute to her.
‘However, there is still so much more to do to support people with food allergies including the appointment of an Allergy Tsar, to act as a champion for people with allergies to ensure they receive correct and appropriate support including joined up health care to prevent avoidable deaths and ill health.’
Food retailers were given two years to get ready for Natasha’s Law as a Food Standards Agency consultation found 88% of the public supported it.
Emily Miles, chief executive of the Food Standards Agency, has thanked businesses for their preparation, saying the law ‘can only be a positive thing’.
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