The parents of a teenage girl who died from a severe allergic reaction after unknowingly eating sesame seeds in a Pret sandwich has hailed a new law in her name as “momentous”.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse’s parents spoke about their achievement of getting Natasha’s Law passed, which means food businesses will be required to list full ingredients on pre-packaged food.
The law comes after Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse campaigned for stricter controls after the 15-year-old, from Fulham, died of naphylaxis after collapsing on board a flight to Nice on July 17, 2016.
The schoolgirl had lost consciousness after eating a baguette she had bought from a Pret a Manger at Heathrow Airport.
Appearing on This Morning with Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson, who befriended the couple while they were grieving, Mr Ednan-Laperhouse spoke about how important the law was.
He said: “Today is a momentous day because Natasha’s law is coming to fruition, and what that means is food business in the whole of the UK will have to comply with new legislation to fully label ingredients on pre-packaged foods – and that covers millions of food products.”
The couple spoke about their daughter’s death and revealed they met the Duchess after flying home with their daughter’s coffin.
Ms Ednan-Laperouse said she and her husband spoke about memories with their daughter with Ms Ferguson and she “made the journey bearable”.
She said: “I didn’t know how I was going to get through that journey home.”
Ms Ferguson, who helped the couple campaign for the law, said the parents were “so brave and so courageous”.
She added she still thought about Natasha and spoke to her every now and then.
Under current rules, food prepared on the premises in which it is sold - such as a packaged sandwich or salad made by staff - is not required to display allergen information on the package.
The new legislation, introduced by Michael Gove, will tighten the rules by requiring foods that are pre-packed directly for sale to carry a full list of ingredients, Defra said.
Natasha's parents, Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, said the introduction of the law would be a "fitting legacy" following their daughter's death.
