New law ‘a fitting tribute’ say parents
THE parents of a teenager who died from an allergic reaction after eating a Pret a Manger baguette have welcomed a new law in her name.
Natasha’s Law comes into force in the UK today after a long-running campaign by Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse.
It requires all food retailers to display full ingredient and allergen labelling on every food item made on the premises and prepacked for direct sale, including sandwiches, cakes and salads.
Mum Tanya said: “Nothing can bring Natasha back but we know in our hearts she would be very proud that a new law in her name will help to protect others.
“Natasha was very public-spirited, she wanted to make a difference, so this feels like a fitting tribute.”
Nadim said: “Natasha’s Law is vital to protect the two to three million people in the UK living with food allergies from life-threatening reactions.”
They campaigned for a change in the law after a 2018 inquest into Natasha’s death highlighted a food labelling loophole, which left her unaware the baguette she was eating contained sesame seeds baked into the dough. Natasha died on July 17, 2016, after eating the Pret artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette before boarding a flight from Heathrow to Nice with her father and a friend. Natasha, from Fulham, West London, suffered a severe allergic reaction after take-off. Her dad gave her two shots of adrenaline but she died later in hospital. Food Standards Agency chief Emily Miles said: “If these changes drive down hospital admissions caused by food allergies, which have increased threefold over 20 years, and prevent further deaths, that can only be a positive thing.” However, research shows only six in 10 businesses are prepared for the law change. Chris Tyas, boss of GS1 UK, warned many small firms needed help to access allergen data.