Tomorrow marks the second anniversary of “Natasha’s law,” which has significantly impacted millions of individuals living with food allergies in the UK. This law mandates that all food retailers across the country display comprehensive ingredient and allergen labeling on all food items made on the premises and pre-packaged for direct sale. This includes popular items like sandwiches, cakes, and salads.
The impact of this law has been substantial. Recent surveys conducted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) have shown a high level of compliance among food businesses, increased awareness among both consumers and businesses, and a growing trend of shop staff asking customers about their allergies. Most importantly, it has made food-allergic individuals feel safer.
However, our family paid the highest price for this law. Our daughter Natasha, at just 15 years old, tragically lost her life in 2016 due to anaphylaxis caused by hidden sesame ingredients in a shop-bought baguette. She collapsed on a flight to France and was pronounced dead later that day. The pain of losing a child, especially knowing that her death was preventable, is something no parent should have to endure.
The coroner’s inquest in 2018 uncovered the loophole in food labeling regulations that had failed Natasha. The absence of sesame on the baguette’s label had falsely reassured her, leading to the devastating outcome. Natasha would be incredibly proud that this law now bears her name, as it has improved the lives of countless individuals, particularly younger ones who often opt for “food on the go.” Official figures estimate over 2 million people in the UK with diagnosed food allergies.
Living with a food allergy is not a choice or preference; it is a serious and unpredictable condition that can trigger life-threatening reactions, like what happened to Natasha. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in food allergy cases, especially among children. This has resulted in a threefold rise in hospital admissions linked to food allergies over the past 20 years.
Supporters of our charity, The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, have shared stories of how Natasha’s law has protected them from potentially fatal allergic reactions. They can now confidently purchase sandwiches at lunchtime, knowing that they won’t be harmed. Transparent labeling has allowed them to expand their meal choices, as they now know precisely what does or does not contain their allergens.
This law has also improved the quality of life for families dealing with food allergies, alleviating some of the stress and fear that comes with having a child affected by this condition. A grateful parent recently shared, “Labelling food is everything. It has made our lives so much better. We can trust the ingredients more, all thanks to Natasha’s law.” Another mother simply stated, “Without Natasha’s law, I don’t think my two-year-old son would have survived.”
However, two years on, we believe it is time to increase the consequences for repeat offenders of Natasha’s law. To date, non-compliant businesses have only received support, improvement notices, cautions, and warnings from trading standards officers. We now call for fines to be imposed on repeat offenders.
There is also a concerning trend noted by the FSA – a 59% rise in the use of precautionary allergy labels (PAL) by food businesses affected by Natasha’s law. These labels indicate that regulated allergens may unintentionally be present in a product, posing a potential risk. However, the misuse and overuse of these labels restrict people’s food choices unnecessarily and devalue the warning, potentially leading to risk-taking by consumers. It forces individuals with food allergies to either limit their food options or hope for the best. One mother shared, “It feels like they’re saying, ‘take the risk if you want, but we don’t promise anything as the manufacturers.'”
We advocate for legislation and mandatory guidelines ensuring that PAL is only applied when there is a verified risk of allergen cross-contamination. Additionally, the government can do more to address this issue. We need a national register of fatal and near-fatal anaphylaxis cases to provide policymakers, scientists, and healthcare professionals with accurate data on the true scale of the problem. Urgently appointing an allergy tsar as a national lead would also ensure individuals with allergies receive appropriate healthcare support, which many currently lack.
Allergic diseases have reached epidemic levels in the UK, affecting approximately one in three individuals. The conditions range from food and drug allergies to asthma and eczema, and the numbers continue to rise. While we celebrate the second anniversary of Natasha’s law tomorrow, there is still much work to be done to ensure that individuals with food allergies and their families can lead safer and more fulfilling lives.
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