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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
CryingMessFFS · 23/09/2018 15:52

Yes legally anything made on site that day does not need individual allergens listed. Presumably the girl picked up the sandwich, didn’t realise the law is different for products made on site that day wrt the lack of allergen warning on the product. Absolutely awful and the law should be changed, each product should have to specify that it may contain xyz allergen on the label.

NailsNeedDoing · 23/09/2018 15:52

Pret have little signs in front of each type of sandwich with the ingredients and allergen information from what I remember. Assuming that was correctly in place, then the information was easily available, and I can't see how it's Prets fault if it wasn't checked. Just the same as it wouldn't be prets fault if they did put the information directly on the packaging and it wasn't checked.

DanglyBangly · 23/09/2018 15:54

This thread irritates me. You’ve decided that ‘Pret are responsible’ for a person’s death, based on reading a short news article, without actually considering either the facts of what happened and what the law is.

And yet people hate lawyers (who deal with, you know, facts and the law).

AllyMcBeagle · 23/09/2018 15:56

Pret have little signs in front of each type of sandwich with the ingredients and allergen information from what I remember.

Yes. They have this now. The BBC news article isn't very good in that it doesn't mention that she died over 2 years ago (July 2016) and Pret have made some changes since then.

NB I'm not entirely defending Pret, I'm just annoyed that the article makes it sound like it happened last week.

HisBetterHalf · 23/09/2018 15:56

they have to label them

www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-labelling

Original poster
brizzledrizzle · 23/09/2018 15:57

addressing a bit of grammar raised by the OP at the same time

Not so much raised as not wanting grammar police to jump on me. Waste of time!

OP posts:
Tippexy · 23/09/2018 15:57

There is no missing apostrophe.

ShutUpBaz · 23/09/2018 15:58

Pret are definately acting legally. The customer is responsible for asking about allergens in places like that. I myself have undergone extensive allergen training and I have allergen lists in a folder to hand for every single product I sell. It is updated weekly and I train all my kitchen staff to use it correctly.

I feel terrible for the poor young lady and her family but Pret are not to blame in this case.

AllyMcBeagle · 23/09/2018 15:58

The BBC news article isn't very good in that it doesn't mention that she died over 2 years ago (July 2016) and Pret have made some changes since then.

Actually ignore me. They seem to have amended the article since I read it this morning!

Original poster
brizzledrizzle · 23/09/2018 15:59

You’ve decided that ‘Pret are responsible’ for a person’s death, based on reading a short news article, without actually considering either the facts of what happened and what the law is.

Ever heard of moral responsibility?

OP posts:
PickAChew · 23/09/2018 16:02

This is so tragic. Pret sandwiches aren't even labelled with what the sandwich is, on the packaging, but the shelf is always clearly labelled and there is more detailed info on the website.
www.pret.co.uk/en-gb/1705-baguettes-artichoke,-olives-&-tapenade.aspx

If you buy a supermarket sandwich there is often so much clutter on the packet that it's hard to even find the ingredients list, so I can't see how this arrangement is any worse.

PaintedHorizons · 23/09/2018 16:03

Because it is not about facts any more. The internet means everyone with an opinion is "right". If you say otherwise you can be accused of being an apologist, a liar, racist, sexist, leftist, fascist etc

Snowymountainsalways · 23/09/2018 16:06

It is also questionable why the plane wasn't immediately diverted.

I can't imagine how her family must be feeling or how they are coping, such a beautiful girl with everything to live for.

JimmyGrimble · 23/09/2018 16:07

How could someone with such a serious allergy not check?
As the parent of a young man with a nut / sesame allergy I have to say that there is a lot of misinformation and ignorance around the allergy issue. People with the allergy are picked up after the initial attack - which 'switches on' the allergy response. They might then keep away from that ingredient and never have another allergic response, they may be exposed a few times and have a mild response or the next exposure they have may send them into anyphylaxis and kill them. It's what makes allergies so difficult with young people. When they're babies and children you do all the checking for them and train them to bring packets to you to check. When they are teenagers they think they know best, they might not like to ask, they might not have had a reaction for years etc etc

PaintedHorizons · 23/09/2018 16:09

OP - you mentioned the grammar - you were the grammar police. It just so happens you were wrong.

Moral responsibility - or personal responsibility?

Being a bit subjective there don't you think? (And clearly not understanding the process)

MorningsEleven · 23/09/2018 16:14

Yes legally anything made on site that day does not need individual allergens listed. Presumably the girl picked up the sandwich, didn’t realise the law is different for products made on site

How many of us would have known that?
It's certainly opened my eyes.
Deepest sympathy to the family of this girl. I hope, in the light of this, allergy information will become more transparent (and pret get an arse kicking)

aperolspritzplease · 23/09/2018 16:14

Only on mumsnet would this descend into grammar.

grumiosmum · 23/09/2018 16:16

The OP raised the grammar issue herself. So I think it's only fair game to tell her she made a mistake.

(Correct use of apostrophe.)

On the Pret issue, my DS who is coeliac cannot eat any of their food, even if gluten is not a listed ingredient, because it is freshly prepared in the kitchen alongside other gluten-containing ingredients, and the risk of cross-contamination is high.

He goes to M&S instead where GF foods are wrapped and prepared in a separate central kitchen.

Pret makes a big thing of having fresh food prepared on site, which is fair enough, as long as people understand the risks.

MadMum101 · 23/09/2018 16:18

How are customers supposed to know which products were made in store and which off premises?

I assume we're talking about products that are in the fridges rather than being made in front of you at your request.

It's ridiculous that ANY assembled product like a filled baguette does not have the full list of ingredients on the packaging.

It's not clear if Pret had changed the recipe of the baguette to include sesame seeds not visible on the outside of the bread. The poor girl may well have had the product before with non sesame seed bread and it had been fine for her.

Polarbearflavour · 23/09/2018 16:20

Somebody I know was cabin crew on that flight who tried to revive this poor girl. They are deeply traumatised by the incident.

Yogagirl123 · 23/09/2018 16:20

Heart breaking.

chocatoo · 23/09/2018 16:24

I’m inclined to agree that someone with such a severe allergy was taking a big risk and ultimately paid a tragic price. How very sad but I feel that Pret do make it clear to ask. Also I feel that we should remember that Pret try to have a social conscience in other areas. They were amongst the first to pass leftover food to the homeless etc.

Walkingdeadfangirl · 23/09/2018 16:26

Its a tragic accident, no one is to blame, with such a serious allergy the teenager really should have been more careful. If you are going to be trapped in an aeroplane with no access to medical attention then you need to be 1000% more careful.

But we should not be banning fresh food or demanding all food is made at least the day before, wrapped in plastic with detailed ingredients/allergen info written all over it.

Would you really want every restaurant/food establishment to cook food and then wrap it in packaging covered with health warnings before putting it on your plate? Can you even do that with hot food?

HotNatured · 23/09/2018 16:27

I have an allergy, and it’s only been since Pret adopted the practice of labelling their food ingredients that I can eat there. Certainly back in 2016, when this young girl died, I would not have eaten anything from there, as often the staff tried to wing it when asked about allergens. My allergy is egg yolk and you’d be amazed at how many people don’t know that mayo contains eggs. I have been caught out many times by this. It’s terrifying when you realise you have imbibed your allergen unwittingly

On the trivial matter of grammar, the OP pointed out the ‘mistake’, nothing wrong with correcting her. I’d much rather be informed about something than keep making the same mistake, so wind your neck in all you ridiculous drama queens Hmm.