By George Eustice.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse was just fifteen when she tragically lost her life on a flight from Heathrow after she had eaten a baguette that had sesame seeds in it and to which she had a severe allergic reaction.
The case prompted calls for a review of the law regarding the labelling of foods and Natasha’s parents, Nadim and Tanya, have been working tirelessly to lead work to improve understanding of allergies.
Thanks to their inspirational drive to protect other allergy sufferers, today marks the day that Natasha’s Law comes into effect. Changes to labelling will mean that millions of people living with food allergies and intolerances will be able to make safer choices about the food they buy.
Businesses will be required to label all food that is prepacked for direct sale, including pre-wrapped sandwiches, with a full list of ingredients, with the 14 major allergens emphasised in the list.
In recent years there has been a growing number of cases involving food allergies. There are thought to be around two million people in the country who are affected by such conditions. It is a complex area and no one knows exactly why such allergies develop or why they are becoming more prevalent.
Until now, pre-packaged foods have been required to label all of the ingredients in the pack but there has always been an exemption for sandwiches and foods prepared on site. There has been a growth in chains who increasingly prepare all of their sandwiches on site, meaning that the risk to people with allergies has become greater.
Food chains have gone a long way to try to address the problem with changes to their own systems, but the government has also worked on this legislative change to require labelling of ingredients in more scenarios to help those with allergies avoid the foods that cause them a reaction.
I am hopeful that the changes being introduced will drive down the number of hospital admissions caused by food allergies and prevent another tragic death such as Natasha’s.
Natasha’s Law will make an immediate difference to millions of people across the UK and I would like to thank Natasha’s parents who have resolutely campaigned to bring about this change.
Food businesses are to be commended for the huge effort that they have put in to prepare for the changes and ensure that people are able to make safe decisions about the food that they eat.
The FSA has supported food businesses throughout this process, and we know that the vast majority of businesses feel comfortable with implementing the new requirements. Indeed, many of them were labelling all ingredients as far back as 2019.
I also want to highlight the importance of consumers making their allergies known when ordering food. Together with more consistency in labelling and greater public awareness, we can try to ensure that no other family has to go through what Natasha’s family has been through.
George Eustice is Environment, Food and Rural Affairs secretary