At last, Pret WILL bring in allergy alert labels

‘Protected and informed’

PRET a Manger is to introduce full ingredient labelling more than two years after the allergy-related death of 15- year- old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.

The move follows demands for improved safety information from Natasha’s parents, who are lobbying for a change in the law to protect allergy sufferers.

Natasha died in July 2016 after a catastrophic reaction to sesame in a Pret baguette. It was not listed as an ingredient on the packaging. Other chains are under pressure to improve their labelling and yesterday Greggs announced it was carrying out an urgent review.

Natasha’s parents, Nadim and Tanya, said: ‘We cautiously welcome the decision by Pret A Manger, and we hope this will quickly lead to improved labelling across all their stores.

‘Pret says it has recognised there is much more it can do; we agree. We will be inviting them to meet with us to outline how we think they can contribute to genuinely meaningful change.’

The law allows businesses that prepare sandwiches and other dishes fresh on site to avoid a legal requirement to give full ingredient and allergen labelling.

Pret will start trialling full ingredient – and allergen – labelling on product packaging from next month. It will also have extra warning signs in shops.

Pret chief executive Clive Schlee said: ‘I want to say again how deeply sorry we are for the loss of Natasha. I hope these measures set us on course to drive change in the industry so people with allergies are as protected and informed as possible.’