Pret a Manger announces full ingredient labelling after death of teenager

Pret a Manger has said that full ingredient labelling, including allergens, will appear on products after a teenager died from an allergic reaction to one of the chain’s sandwiches.

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, from Fulham, south-west London, collapsed on board a flight in July 2016 after eating an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette she had bought at a Pret outlet in Heathrow Airport.

The coroner at her inquest last week said she died of anaphylaxis after eating the Pret sandwich containing sesame, which she was allergic to.

Pret has announced that full ingredient labelling will be introduced to all products that are freshly made in its shop kitchens, and labels will list all ingredients, including allergens.

The food company said it will start trialling full ingredient labelling on product packaging from next month, adding that this will be rolled out to all UK shops as quickly as possible.

Clive Schlee, Pret chief executive, said: “I want to say again how deeply sorry we are for the loss of Natasha.

“I said we would learn from this tragedy and ensure meaningful changes happen.

“Nothing is more important to Pret right now.”

Pret said it is committing to working with others, including the Government, regulatory authorities, charity groups and industry peers “to secure the legislative changes necessary to better protect people with allergies”.

The company said that in the coming weeks it will ensure that prominent allergen warning stickers are placed on all individual freshly made products.

It has committed to ensuring that additional allergen warning signs are displayed in shops, and full ingredient information, including allergens, for all products is made available online and in shops.

A Defra spokeswoman said: “We welcome the news that Pret have announced they will be introducing full ingredient labelling, including allergens on all their products. However following the tragic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse there is a clear need to review food labelling.

“That is why we are currently reviewing our approach to give consumers more information. A critical part is looking very closely at how we can improve and strengthen domestic regulations to make sure all UK consumers have the protections required.”

On Monday, Natasha’s parents Nadim and Tanya said companies should not wait for a law change on food labelling before “doing the right thing”.

Prime Minister Theresa May has said the Government will look at companies’ responsibilities on food labelling, while Environment Secretary Michael Gove said he had instructed civil servants to investigate a law change after the teenager’s death highlighted the “importance of acting urgently”.

On Tuesday, Natasha’s parents said they welcomed the Government’s efforts, but companies should not wait for a law change before “doing the right thing”.

Mr Gove said the family was “absolutely right” to say the law needs to be changed, and added: “I think their case is compelling and we need to act quickly in order to ensure that we have the best possible protection in place.”

Currently, non-prepackaged foods do not have to a have a specific allergen label attached.

Asked whether the Government would bring in a “Natasha’s law” to try to prevent deaths of this kind, Mrs May told BBC1’s Breakfast on Tuesday: “Obviously, this was an absolutely tragic case and our thoughts are with her family and friends over what happened.

“We have obviously to look at this issue, we have to look at the responsibility of individual companies as well.

“This is something that has been an absolute tragedy and our sympathies and condolences are with her family and friends.”

Natasha had been on her way to a four-day break in France with her father and best friend when she fell ill on the British Airways flight from London to Nice.

Video footage released by her family shows Natasha smiling, putting her thumbs up to the camera and holding hands with her friend moments before she fell ill.