Natasha’s law to prevent allergy deaths comes into force after Pret teenager died on plane
A law in memory of tragic Pret a Manger allergy teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse has been laid in front of parliament today, making sure that allergens are properly listed in cafes across the country.
Natasha’s Law will close a loophole which allowed food that was prepared on the premises to be sold without an allergy warning.
Read more: Pret a Manger has work to do in the wake of customer allergen death
Now sandwich shops, such as Pret, will be forced to publish a full list of ingredients.
It came after the Ednan-Laperouse died after eating a Pret baguette on a plane in 2016.
The shop at Heathrow where the sandwich had been bought did not say that the bread contained sesame seeds, which 15-year-old was allergic to.
The teenager’s family paid tribute to her this morning.
“Natasha was a spirited campaigner for justice and today she is smiling down on us knowing that this law well help ensure others do not suffer in the way our family does, and always will, following the loss of our beloved daughter and sister,” they said.
The bill will be laid before parliament today before coming into force in October 2021. It will give businesses enough time to transition to the new rules, the government said.
The head of the Food Standards Agency, Heather Hancock, said her organisation would work with businesses “to get this right.”
She added: “This is an important and welcome step towards our ambition for the UK to become the best place in the world for people who have food allergies and intolerances.”
Read more: Pret a Manger to introduce full ingredient labelling following customer allergen death
Food minister Zac Goldsmith praised the family’s “tireless campaigning.”
“The introduction of this law will make it easier for allergy sufferers to make clear, safe choices when buying food,” he said.