Pret a Manger and allergy death

[beanaseireann]

Anyone else absolutely appalled that Natasha Ednan -Laperouse who sadly died after an allergic reaction to a sesame seed containing baguette, was the 10 th person to have an allergic reaction from sesame containing food bought at the chain.
It beggars belief that there were not warnings clearly displayed.
Whoever was in charge of the decision not to display food allergens has a lot to answer for.

Every time I've had a sesame seed bread it's liberally sprinkled with the things. You don't need a label to tell you it has seeds on it.

But why did they refuse to put allergy advice up ?

I think the seeds were ground up and added to the dough like flour so she would not have been able to see them.

Really sad story. I hope Pret get mega-fined. Allergy labelling is so important.

Knitjob I think you're right - that the seeds were ground into the flour.
The poor family.

The sesame seeds were ground up into the bread, yes. Not something you could typically expect in bread. It's not even like it's an obscure allergy - sesame is one of the most common severe allergens. They must be heavily fined and forced to put allergen information out, bollocks to the loopholes.

British Airways should also be held accountable - they didn't use a defibrillator on the (grounded) flight as apparently their priority is the cabin crew manning every door on board in case of emergency. I understand they are tied to protocol, but a passenger dying on board screams emergency to me fucking disgraceful

My understanding was the plane was landing and the staff had to deal with the landing. I think it should highlight the need to defibrillators at the front and rear of the plane.

On the evidence so far it appears Pret a Manger did not break the law and therefore will not get fined. However, I agree that the law needs to change and that Pret a Manger should have done better, regardless of the law.

Nicknacky is correct. The plane was landing. It was not grounded.

The defib wasn’t working - I read it had a flat battery.

(I now can’t find the article I read that in)

The medical evidence at the inquest suggested that the defibrillator wouldn't have made a difference. One thing that would have made a difference, sadly, was if the epipens had been longer.

I do think it's shocking that Pret a Manger are allowed to get away without proper labelling. It's an accident waiting to happen, isn't it? Add an allergen to flour where no one can see it or taste it, don't tell anyone you've done it...what do they expect?

There’s a fairly long thread here

In that thread, another poster said that defibrillators don’t work in an anaphylactic situation as it is not usually a shockable rhythm.

I do think it’s bad that places like Pret and Gregg exploit (quite legally) a loophole wrt packaging. They’re not the same as a wee roll shop down the town centre - using custom labels/packaging with nutritional and allergy info wouldn’t be that difficult for them.

Thanks @Nicknacky and @prh47bridge for the correction, my apologies.

My DM and I have severe allergies, and I work in food service - there is a huge emphasis on allergen orders and correct preparation and the moments. Sesame is one of the most common and severe allergens - hackmum is right, it was a disaster waiting to happen. It's awful to think that you can be as cautious as possible and something could still happen.

It’s an awful tragedy. I have long doubted epipens, they don’t have a full dose of Adrenalin for normal adult humans so two doses would only be just over the normal dose anyhow. The needles are tiny so only go into subcutaneous fat half the time. It needs to be intramuscular so that the dose gets into the blood stream quicker.
I also have to say that if I had allergies as serious as this I would be making my own sandwiches for a flight.

This tragedy happened two years ago - have Pret started to label their sandwiches that contain allergens yet? I've never been inside a Pret so wouldn't know but you would have thought they would have taken action straightaway.

Are Pret now labelling their wraps, baguettes and sandwiches etc ?

They are doing a trail run of labelling, but to my mind it’s not enough, they should have done it from the start of the business. Poor girl and and poor family, so sad that it could have been prevented by a bit of simple common sense and care.

No labelling when I popped in to check today.
I'm boycotting them regardless from now on anyway.

My DD had anaphylactic type reaction after eating mislabelled food at Wasabi (sushi and noodles chain). Luckily, we've realised mistake pretty much immediately, she only ate one spoonful and had double dose of antihistamine straightaway. In the past she was admitted with anaphylaxis (to the same allergen) to A&E. I've complained to them and was fobbed off with sorry-not-sorry apology
It's depressing. The law has to change.

It's a sad story, but I would have taken my own food if the risk was that great.

Despite having very severe food allergies, Natasha had reached the age of 15 because she had been taught by her parents to be "as vigilant as a hawk". Both she and her dad were confident the sandwich was safe to eat. The fault lies with Pret, a multi million pound company with no conscience.

I don’t know anyone with an anaphylactic response to a food substance that would consider eating an off the shelf sandwiches or cakes etc. All the people I know are obsessive about checking really carefully and most take food they’ve prepared themselves.
Seems odd to be that allergic and not be careful. Some responsibility sits with the people affected, sadly.

She was careful. Pret weren't.

I am late to this thread ,due to being in hospital with allergy related problems .
I can't believe what some people are saying here.
Talk about victim blaming !
She did check the sandwich.
Her father checked the sandwich.
It was all ok for her to eat.
Going by all they had ever been led to believe,the sandwich did not contain the allergen.
The girl is not at fault
The family is not at fault.
The fault lies with Pret A Manger.
And as this had happened before they are totally and wholly to blame .
That family is broken with grief.
The dad was on the plane with his daughter .
He will never stop seeing his daughter dying .
And people think it's ok to blame them!!
Shocking