Natasha's Law: Parents of teenager who died after allergic reaction from Pret a Manger baguette welcome new food packaging law

A new law drawn up after a 15-year-old girl died from an allergic reaction to a baguette from Pret a Manger has come into force across the UK.

From Friday, all food retailers will be required to display the full ingredients and allergens on every food item that is made on site or already pre-packed, including sandwiches, cakes, and salads.

The new law was campaigned for by Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, the parents of 15-year-old Natasha, who died in July 2016 after eating Pret's artichoke, olive, and tapenade baguette.

She had bought it from the chain's store at Heathrow, unaware that it contained sesame seeds, and had a severe allergic reaction within minutes of her flight taking off for Nice.

Despite her father administrating two Epi-pens on her, Natasha had several cardiac arrests during the flight and died later that day at a French hospital.

The coroner at her inquest in 2018 concluded Natasha would not have eaten the sandwich if she had known the ingredients and allergens, which were not displayed due to a food labelling loophole.

Mr and Mrs Ednan-Laperouse, who set up the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, have welcomed the change of law, as they said their daughter "would be very proud".

Mr Ednan-Laperouse said: "Natasha's Law is vital to protect the two to three million people in the UK living with food allergies from life-threatening allergic reactions. It is about saving lives and marks a major milestone in our campaign to support people in this country with food allergies.

"This change in the law brings greater transparency about the foods people are buying and eating; it will give people with food allergies confidence when they are buying pre-packaged food for direct sale, such as sandwiches and salads. Everyone should be able to consume food safely."

Mrs Ednan-Laperouse said there was still "so much more to do" to ensure similar tragedies do not occur again.

She said: "Natasha was always extremely careful to check the food labels and until that terrible day in 2016 hadn't had a severe allergic reaction for over nine years.

"Nothing can bring Natasha back, and we have to live with that reality every day, but we know in our hearts that Natasha would be very proud that a new law in her name will help to protect others. Natasha was a very public-spirited young woman - she wanted to make a difference - so this feels like a fitting tribute to her.

"However, there is still so much more to do to support people with food allergies including the appointment of an Allergy Tsar, to act as a champion for people with allergies to ensure they receive correct and appropriate support including joined up health care to prevent avoidable deaths and ill health."

Food Standards Agency chief executive Emily Miles said: "If these changes drive down the number of hospital admissions caused by food allergies, which have seen a threefold increase over the last 20 years, and prevent further tragic deaths such as Natasha's, that can only be a positive thing.

"I understand how difficult the past 18 months have been for food businesses, and I am grateful for the effort that so many have made to prepare for the changes and enable people to make safe decisions about the food they eat."