PRET A DANGER
Call for law change as sandwich kills Natasha, 15
THE family of a teenager who died after an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger sandwich have demanded a change to food labelling laws.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, collapsed on a British Airways flight from London to Nice in July 2016.
After an inquest into her death ended yesterday, Natasha’s dad Nadim, from west London, said: “It feels to us that if Pret a Manger were following the law, then the law was playing Russian roulette with our daughter’s life.”
He added her inquest must serve as a “watershed moment”.
Natasha had been on her way to a four-day break in France with her dad and best friend when she bought an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette as they passed through Heathrow Airport.
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.
Coroner Dr Sean Cummings said Natasha died of anaphylaxis after eating a baguette containing sesame, to which she was allergic.
He added: “There was no specific allergen information on the baguette packaging or on the ( food display cabinet) and Natasha was reassured by that.”
Food laws allow for reduced labelling on products made in shops. Pret boss Clive Schlee said the food chain was “deeply sorry”.