Pret ‘was warned of allergy alerts before girl’s death’
PRET A Manger did not label ‘artisan’ baguettes as containing sesame seeds despite six allergic reaction cases in the year before a teenager’s death, an inquest has heard.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, suffered a fatal reaction to a sandwich from the outlet, which she had not realised contained the ingredient, on July 17 2016.
An inquest at West London Coroner’s Court was told the packaging failed to mention that sesame seeds were ‘hidden’ in the dough.
Yesterday, it emerged that a ‘specific warning’ about the dangers of not signposting the allergen had been given to the food chain the previous year.
Pret baguettes described as ‘posh’ or ‘artisan’ were said to contain sesame seeds, including the artichoke, olive and tapenade one that Natasha ate.
A complaint log for the company from between July 17, 2015, and June 29, 2016, showed nine cases of sesame-related allergy incidents.
Four of these led to customers seeking hospital treatment, while another went to a medical centre.
Six of the nine cases involved ‘artisan baguettes’, including one woman who contacted the law firm representing Natasha’s family after learning of her fate.
Jeremy Hyam QC told the hearing that the woman had nearly died after suffering an anaphylactic reaction from sesame in the sandwich ‘nine months before Natasha’s death’.
The inquest is due to last until Friday.