Pret A Manger allergy deaths: Family of second suspected victim 'want answers'
The family of Celia Marsh, 42, who collapsed and died after buying a flatbread from Pret A Manger, say they "miss her greatly".
Monday 8 October 2018 19:13, UK
The family of a second person believed to have died after suffering an allergic reaction to a Pret A Manger sandwich say they want "answers".
Mother-of-five Celia Marsh died in December last year after eating a "super-veg rainbow flatbread" containing a yoghurt that was supposed to be dairy-free, but was found to be contaminated with dairy.
Now the family of the 42-year-old dental nurse say want "answers to why she died after eating lunch with her family".
In a statement, they said: "We have kept a dignified silence since the death of Celia in December last year as the family has come to terms with her sudden and unexpected death. We are also awaiting the outcome of the investigations into how she died.
"She was a much-loved mother, daughter, sister and wife. We miss her greatly and we just want the answers to why she died after eating lunch with her family."
Mrs Marsh, who had five daughters, died at the Royal United Hospital in Bath on 27 December, 2017.
Avon Coroner's Court says inquiries into her death are continuing and no date has yet been fixed for a full inquest hearing.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) investigated supplier CoYo, which then issued an allergy alert and recalled its coconut yoghurts.
But CoYo has denied that recall was linked to Mrs Marsh's death and accused Pret of hampering its own probe by failing to provide vital information.
"The claims made by Pret are unfounded," a spokeswoman for CoYo said on Sunday.
The circumstances around Mrs Marsh's death emerged as Pret faced scrutiny over 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who was allergic to sesame and died after eating one of its baguettes.
Mrs Marsh collapsed and died after buying the sandwich in a store in Stall Street, Bath.
Pret said it had been "mis-sold" a guaranteed dairy-free yoghurt by CoYo that was discovered to contain dairy protein.
Vegan brand CoYo, a coconut milk brand that has been endorsed by TV cook Nigella Lawson, recalled the yoghurts in February.
But CoYo has denied this was related to Mrs Marsh's death, saying the contaminated raw materials had been supplied to it in January - after she died.
"The dairy-free product we provided to Pret in December 2017, at the time of this tragedy, is not linked to the product we recalled in February 2018," a spokeswoman said.
"Pret's inability to provide us with a batch code, despite several requests, has severely limited our ability to investigate this further."
Michelle Victor from law firm Leigh Day who are working with Mrs Marsh's family, said: "We await the full inquest into Celia's death and will be working with the family for the answers they so dearly need."
Pret announced last week it will include full ingredient labelling on all of its products and the government is considering a law change after the death of Natasha, from Fulham, southwest London.
She collapsed on board a flight in July 2016 after eating an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette she had bought at Heathrow Airport.