Call for change at first food allergy conference

The parents of a girl who died from a severe allergic reaction want change for islanders living with food allergies.

Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, died from a severe allergic reaction to sesame in July 2016 after eating a baguette that did not have any allergen advice on its wrapper.

Tanya and Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, who founded the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation in her memory, will address Jersey's first food allergy conference in St Helier.

The foundation announced a partnership with the Jersey Food Allergy Group, saying they wanted Natasha's Law food labelling legislation extended to the Channel Islands.

The legislation, introduced in the UK in October 2021, requires all food retailers to display full ingredient and allergen labelling on every food item made 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 said it hoped to extend 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.

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