Natasha’s Law came into force in England, Scotland, and Wales on the 1st of October 2021 following the traffic death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, the 15-year-old who died tragically in 2016 after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger baguette.
Since her death, Natasha’s parents, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse have pushed the government for better labelling of allergens on packaged fresh food sold in shops, cafes, and restaurants.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now introduced Natasha’s law to protect allergy sufferers. The new legislation requires all food businesses to include full ingredients labelled on pre-packed foods.
In more detail, food businesses now have the legal obligation to include a full ingredient list, the name of the food and an emphasis on all the allergenic ingredients in the packaging.
Can you claim for an allergic reaction?
Consumers have the right to claim compensation if they have suffered an allergic reaction to packaged foods. With so many foods being recognised as allergens, an act of negligence from a food establishment can be very serious and even fatal in some cases.
Failure to comply with the current food laws which has resulted in causing harm to a customer due to them suffering an allergic reaction would be considered valid for making a compensation claim. Even minor food allergies can still be valid for compensation if caused by negligence.
Retailers and food manufactures are responsible for making customers aware of the ingredients in the food they are selling.
Some common acts of negligence that can lead to a food allergy personal injury claim can be: mislabelled products as safe for certain allergies, incorrect information or not sufficient information in the packaging or food premises.
The introduction of Natasha’s Law will improve food labelling and make people with allergies feel safer to eat out. But if you have suffered an allergic reaction due to negligence and need some advice, please contact us to speak to one of our experienced solicitors.