In October 2021 a set of food labelling laws called Natasha’s Law comes into force.
The tragic death of 15 year old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse on a flight from Heathrow in 2016 highlighted the potentially fatal consequences of inadequate food labelling.
Natasha, who was allergic to sesame, stop breathing on the flight to Nice. Despite using her medication, she died from a severe allergic reaction.
Natasha had eaten a sandwich which failed to list sesame as an ingredient. The sandwich had sesame seeds baked into the dough.
The sandwich, made by Pret a Manger, had no specific allergy warnings and Natasha ate the sandwich, believing she was safe.
Whilst Natasha’s case was well publicised she is not alone. A handful of people die each year from food allergies and many more are made ill. Food allergies are estimated to affect one in eight children in the UK to some degree. Around 2% of adults have food allergies.
Natasha’s law passed through to law and new regulations were prepared in 2020.