Pret a Manger forced to remove word ‘natural’ from its packaging after ‘real bread’ campaign row and girl, 15, died from eating their sandwich
- The ‘real bread’ campaign highlighted Pret’s use of additives in their bread
- The Advertising Standards Authority ruled that their packaging was misleading
- Pret also said they would provide more information on their ingredients
- News comes after Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, died from anaphylactic shock
Pret a Manger is removing the word ‘natural’ from its logo and packs following pressure from ‘real bread’ campaigners.
It has also promised to give more information about its ingredients following the death of teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.
She suffered a catastrophic allergic reaction to one of the sandwich chain’s products.
Pret A Manger is removing the word ‘natural’ from its packaging following pressure from the ‘real bread’ campaign and they have promised to give more information about ingredients following the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse
The removal of the word ‘natural’ comes in response to revelations that it uses some artificial additives in its sandwich bread.
Pret, which was founded in Britain in 1983, has grown to more than 500 shops in nine countries on the back of a claim to offer natural, fresh, quality food, made on the premises.
However, it has had to bow to pressure from the Real Bread Campaign, which champions honest labelling and fights for small independent bakers and sandwich shops who do not use additives.
Earlier this year, the Advertising Standards Authority ruled in favour of a complaint by the group, which argued Pret was misleading customers with claims on its website to sell ‘natural’ food.
Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15 (pictured), died of a severe allergic reaction after she bought the artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette from a shop at Heathrow Terminal 5 but was feeling ill within minutes
The ruling was based around the fact that Pret’s bread contains three additives including E472e, which strengthens the dough and reduces the number of large holes.
The Daily Mail recently revealed the company was removing the word ‘natural’ from its website and signs. It has now emerged that it is also being taken off packaging and off the circular logo.
Chris Young, of the Real Bread Campaign, said Pret ‘had been putting real effort into evolving its products, labelling and marketing descriptions’.
Clare Clough of Pret said it had been working on improving communications with customers and on removing artificial additives.