Pret a Manger agrees to list all ingredients after teenager’s death

PRET A MANGER has bowed to pressure and has vowed to put full allergy information on food packaging after a teenager died as a result of eating a baguette containing unlabelled sesame seeds.

The sandwich chain said that full ingredient labelling, including allergens, would appear on products which were freshly made in its shop kitchens “as soon as possible”, to better warn people with allergies of the risks.

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

It comes after Natasha Ednan-laperouse, 15, from 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.

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. 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.

“Nothing is more important to Pret right now.”

The Pret pledge came after 15-yearold Natasha died from an allergic reaction to one of the chain’s sandwiches bought in Heathrow Airport. In a statement, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-laperouse, Natasha’s parents, 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. We would like to thank the public and the media for all their ongoing incredible support.

Jill Paterson of law firm Leigh Day, which is representing the family, said: “The decision by Pret a Manger concerning labelling on all their products is to be welcomed, but deeds mean more than words.

“We will be working closely with our clients to arrange a lasting legacy for Natasha, not just new legislation but also meaningful change for all people with allergies.”

‘I said we would learn from this tragedy and ensure meaningful changes happen’