Parents Advocate for Food Allergy Law Expansion at Inaugural Conference

The parents of a girl who died from a severe allergic reaction are seeking changes for islanders living with food allergies. Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, passed away in July 2016 due to a severe allergic reaction to sesame after consuming a baguette that lacked any allergen advice on its wrapper. Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, who established the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation in her memory, are scheduled to speak at Jersey’s first food allergy conference in St Helier. The foundation announced a collaboration with the Jersey Food Allergy Group, stating their desire for Natasha’s Law food labelling legislation to be extended to the Channel Islands. This legislation, introduced in the UK in October 2021, mandates that all food retailers display full ingredient and allergen labelling on every food item prepared on the premises and pre-packed for direct sale. “For too long, people with food allergies in the Channel Islands have failed to have the protections afforded to their counterparts just a few miles away in the UK,” the founders said. “This is unacceptable.” “We will take the lead in campaigning for legislative change in Jersey.” The foundation also indicated its intention to expand its work to Guernsey. “Working together, we want to improve the lives of people with food allergies in the Channel Islands, and help to keep them safe,” it said.