PRET-A-MANGER TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST A DEAD CUSTOMER FOR ALLERGIC REACTION
Pret A Manger said in a statement that it would begin legal procedures against Ednan-Laperouse family shortly. Matt Dunham / Associated Press
By Antoine Bernard
Oct 10th, 2018
LONDON — On the way to a vacation in France with her father, 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse died from a severe allergic reaction caused by sesame seeds in a baguette.
While the young teenager took good care of reading the label beforehand, “there was no specific allergen information on the baguette packaging, and Natasha was reassured by that”, the coroner, Sean Cummings, declared in his ruling. Unaware of the “hidden” seeds baked into the dough, Natasha collapsed within a few hours.
Pret-A-Manger did not break the law, Mr. Cummings said, and the company has no legal implications in this incident. Yet two years after the tragic episode, allergy sufferers have been waiting on Pret-A-Manger to take action and change their labeling.
Instead, the company shifted the blame onto Ms. Ednan-Laperouse’s family, implying that Natasha had already been sick at the time of the fatal accident. Pret-a-Manger now seek compensation from the family for “moral prejudice” and “damaged brand equity”.
The chain’s director of risk and compliance, Jonathan Perkins, also added that he accepted that several individuals had had both negative experiences consuming some sandwiches, asserting that “thousands of satisfied customers could compensate for a few sick and nauseous ones”.
Pret-a-Manger will start legal proceedings against the victim’s family on October 22nd.
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