Our girl would be so proud her death will protect others
In 2016, Natasha Ednan-Laperouse had a fatal allergic reaction after eating a shop-bought sandwich. After a tireless campaign by her parents, Natasha’s Law comes into effect this month, meaning pre-packaged food will now be fully labelled. Elizabeth Archer reports
Tashi, I love you so much, darling. I’ll be with you soon.” These were the last words Tanya Ednan-Laperouse spoke to her 15-year-old daughter Natasha.
The teenager was travelling to France for a holiday with her dad Nadim – to be followed by her mum on a later flight – when she bought a sandwich from Pret-a-Manger at Heathrow airport on July 17, 2016.
The bread contained sesame, which Natasha was severely allergic to – but because of a loophole in the law it wasn’t properly labelled.
“The law was playing Russian roulette with our daughter’s life,” says Nadim. Natasha suffered a severe allergic reaction on the flight, and despite her dad administering two shots of adrenaline from an EpiPen, and CPR from a doctor on board, she was pronounced dead shortly after landing in France.
Tanya, back home in Britain, had to say a final goodbye to Natasha through a phone placed on her daughter’s pillow.
A statement from Pret-a-Manger expressed sorrow, saying: “All of us at Pret want meaningful change to come from this tragedy. We will ensure that it does.”
Her parents, who live in Fulham, West London, have campaigned tirelessly for a change in regulations.
This month, five years after their daughter’s death, Natasha’s Law comes into effect ensuring all pre-packaged meals are fully labelled with ingredients. Previously, takeaway food prepared on-site, such as sandwiches, was exempt.
The 2018 inquest into Natasha’s death found she would not have eaten the baguette had it been properly labelled.
“Natasha would not have died,” Tanya says. “She was always extremely careful to check labels and, until that terrible day, hadn’t had a severe allergic reaction for over nine years. Nothing can bring her 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.”
While allergy sufferers are pleased about the law change, many say there’s more to be done.
Karen Webber’s five-year-old son Lucas is severely allergic to wheat, dairy, eggs, peas, nuts, peanuts, some fish, chickpeas and sesame.
“I think it’s brilliant that allergies are getting more attention and the issue of labelling is being taken seriously – but the new law doesn’t go far enough yet,” says Karen, 41, who runs a marketing business (goodnessmarketing.co.uk). “It won’t change how we approach food as a family. In my experience businesses can’t cope very well with allergies and for somebody like Lucas who’s very allergic, it’s still not safe.”
Karen and her husband Chris, 39, live in Stockport, Gtr Manchester, and also have an older son Caleb, eight, who is mildly allergic to tree nuts and peanuts.
They discovered Lucas’s allergies when he was taken to a messy play area as a baby and came out in hives after coming into contact with spaghetti. As a family, they often feel anxious on days out.
Karen says: “Once we went to a cafe and although the food was safe, the toys Lucas was playing with had been touched by other children with food on their hands.
“When we got home he came out in hives and his crying sounded raspy, so I had to pin him down and use the EpiPen. His whole body went limp, and it was horrible for us all. He was taken to hospital and had a secondary reaction too.”
So the family avoids fresh food made at cafes, and steers clear of ice creams and restaurants on days out.
“It’s awkward having to ask the waiter a barrage of questions about the food, and often they are reluctant to give any guarantees,” says Karen.
While she welcomes Natasha’s Law, she is concerned many businesses will put blanket labels on food saying they can’t guarantee it’s allergen-free. Research backs that up.
Eight out of 10 food businesses say they feel unprepared for the changes, and four in 10 people working in the food industry have not heard of Natasha’s Law, a study by food data company GS1 UK found.
Tash Blythe, who delivers food safety training to businesses with company High Speed Training, says it’s essential food firms follow the new rules.
“It is imperative that staff are properly trained in how to handle customer queries, find the correct information, and communicate effectively with customers and other staff to ensure customers are safe from allergens,” she says.
Julianne Ponan, 32, an allergy sufferer and founder of allergen-free food company Creative Nature (creativenaturesuperfoods.co.uk), also welcomes the changes.
But she remains worried about catch-all warnings given by food companies that leave allergy sufferers with little choice but to go elsewhere.
“I’ve been asked to sign waivers in restaurants before, saying they’re not legally liable if I have an allergic reaction,” says Julianne, who lives in Walton-onThames, Surrey, with her fiance Matthew, 34.
“It makes you feel incredibly awkward. An allergy isn’t a lifestyle choice, it’s something I can’t help. It makes me feel segregated and often makes it difficult for me to go out with friends.”
Eating at coffee shop chains is one of the most challenging things.
“A lot of the time in shops, the staff say food is definitely nut-free and I’ll know it’s not. For example, a nut-free croissant might be touching an almond croissant. If I eat food contaminated with nuts, I could die.”
She hopes the new law will make food businesses more aware of the impact on the two to three million allergy sufferers in the UK.
“Food allergies can be fatal and the number, particularly children, being diagnosed is rising,” says Nadim.
Following their daughter’s death, Tanya and Nadim set up the charity The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation (narf.org.uk) to fund vital medical research and raise awareness of food allergies. It has recently launched a campaign asking the Government to appoint an Allergy Tsar.
“Everyone should be able to consume food safely,” says Nadim. “This is about saving lives.”
The law was playing Russian roulette with our daughter’s life