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AIBU?

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Original poster

to think that Pret are responsible for this young woman's death

374 replies

brizzledrizzle · 23/09/2018 15:35

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45617845

A 15 year old with a sesame allergy died after eating a sandwich from Pret a manger; the company confirmed that 'its products were not individually labelled with allergen or ingredient information.' (missing apostrophe not mine)

I think it's appalling that they don't label products and pretty stupid to bake baguettes with sesame seeds inside if you aren't going to make it very obvious on the packaging that they contain sesame seeds. The government website says that they must be on the packaging because of allergies.

OP posts:
Passmethecrisps · 23/09/2018 15:36

Poor girl. I am really surprised as I thought pret were all over allergy information. When I was briefly dairy and soy free they were extremely knowledgeable about it. I suppose I asked specifically though.

Fiffyshadesofgreymatter · 23/09/2018 15:38

I just don't understand how someone with an allergy would buy something without checking.

She shouldn't have too. It should have been labelled and they should be held to account for it. A jugdement should be awarded which us large enough to make sure they will never want to be caught again. But why eat something without checking.

LapinR0se · 23/09/2018 15:39

Such a sad case
(There is no missing apostrophe)

megletthesecond · 23/09/2018 15:39

IMO as a parent of a child with a serious allergy and someone who cannot eat gluten I do find Pret tricky to eat in. We stick to the same plain sandwich / salad every single time.

OftenHangry · 23/09/2018 15:40

Ffs Pret. Thei legal teams needs sacking
www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-labelling

Firstbornunicorn · 23/09/2018 15:40

I agree.

As a side note - what missing apostrophe?

Artofpretending · 23/09/2018 15:40

I read that if the food is prepared in store on the day the information doesn’t have to legally be included hence why she didn’t know.

amy85 · 23/09/2018 15:41

If you have an allergy why would you eat something without checking Confused

DanglyBangly · 23/09/2018 15:41

Article in the Guardian explains the law. Only food prepared offsite and pre-packaged has to contain allergen information. Food prepped onsite doesn’t but Pret have signs up and staff members trained on giving allergen advice. So they’re within the law.

We don’t know yet what went wrong in this case - whether she didn’t check with the staff or whether they gave her the wrong info.

Tragic case though.

Original poster
brizzledrizzle · 23/09/2018 15:42

it's products not its products?

I read that if the food is prepared in store on the day the information doesn’t have to legally be included hence why she didn’t know.

That's a cop out isn't it? If that's the law then it needs to be changed.

OP posts:
Artofpretending · 23/09/2018 15:42

Yes it’s an important loophole

Chestnut23 · 23/09/2018 15:44

Totally not the point but it's = it is.

I do agree it is a very sad case.

Bloodybridget · 23/09/2018 15:44

I saw a notice in the branch I was in yesterday that said because of their range of products and the various environments where they were made, they couldn't guarantee that anything would be entirely free of a particular allergen; they advised customers with allergies to ask staff. I don't really see that they were responsible for the death; I would assume that any food item might contain an allergen.

nopeni · 23/09/2018 15:44

Because she was 15 and probably thought it was safe?

I don't eat much outside of a set diet because I have intolerances (not allergies) but it's hard work and only takes a minute of thoughtlessness or bad luck.

marriageoftrueminds · 23/09/2018 15:44

You don’t use an apostrophe for its in the possessive - only for it’s as an abbreviation of ‘it is’.

But yes it’s a very sad case, poor girl and family.

steff13 · 23/09/2018 15:45

it's products not its products?

No, it's = it is.

myheartsjourney · 23/09/2018 15:45

I read the article and it stated they don’t have to label ithe product with the allergy information if it’s baked in store that day. Because they will have the allergy information by the till ... or something like that? I’m not too sure.

It’s horrible and I can’t imagine the pain her family are going through but potentially legally Pret didn’t do anything wrong. However I hope they will change their procedure going forward.

steff13 · 23/09/2018 15:45

Whoops, cross posted there.

myheartsjourney · 23/09/2018 15:47

Really?!?! On a thread about a young girl dying people are discussing grammar?!

That’s repulsive.

GulliverUnravels · 23/09/2018 15:47

I have a food allergy and Pret is one of my go-tos because their food labelling is so clear. Every item has allergens listed IME. My allergy isn't anaphylactic so I don't always double-check with staff if it's clearly labelled, because it's just.so.tiresome having to have that coversation every time you eat anything outside of the house. Maybe she wanted a meal where she could pretend to be normal, and trusted that the food label would allow her that. It's a risky game if you're anaphylactic though.

nopeni · 23/09/2018 15:48

Allergies also can get randomly and unexpectedly worse.

I agree it's weird to debate grammar here.

Girliefriendlikesflowers · 23/09/2018 15:51

It sounds like there were a catalogue of failures for this poor girl, the plane didn't land quickly enough, cabin staff didn't have a clue what to do, the defibrillator wasn't used/ working properly.

Such a beautiful girl, tragic.

Penners99 · 23/09/2018 15:51

If you have such a severe allergy then, FGS, why buy food you have no idea what is in it???

cardibach · 23/09/2018 15:51

Oh FFS myheart people are discussing the topic of the OP perfectly respectfully whilst addressing a bit of grammar raised by the OP at the same time.

OftenHangry · 23/09/2018 15:51

That's ridiculous. Shock
I honestly wondered how the hell did they get around it, because even though it's packed at premises it can't be altered without packaging being opened. I thought this no need to label is for things like McDonalds or freshly made sandwiches just wrappen in a paper or so.