Who owns Pret a Manger, what is the latest scandal and can allergy sufferers really die?
A second person is believed to have died from an allergic reaction to a Pret product
A SECOND person is believed to have died from an allergic reaction to a Pret a Manger product in the last year.
The latest scandal relates to an allegedly mislabelled sandwich at the chain’s outlet in Bath in 2017 and comes just a year after the death of teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.
Who owns Pret a Manger?
Pret a Manger is owned by Luxembourg-based JAB, which belong to the German billionaire Reimann family.
The firm took control of Pret in May 2018, after acquiring the business from equity firm Bridgepoint Advisers, Pret’s owner since 2008.
JAB also owns coffee brands Keurig Green Mountain and Douwe Egberts as well as luxury coffee houses including Peet’s Coffee, Peet’s subsidiary Stumptown Coffee Roasters, and Caribou Coffee.
The firm also owns Panera and Krispy Kreme.
The takeover of Pret was estimated to be worth £1.5billion and was welcomed by CEO Clive Schlee, who oversees the brand’s 530 stores.
All 12,000 Pret staff received a gift of £1,000 from the new owners following the takeover.
There are 530 Pret shops in the UK, 92 in the US, 26 in Hong Kong, 24 in France, two in Dubai and Denmark, and one in each Singapore and the Netherlands.
What is the most recent allergy scandal to hit the sandwich shop chain?
On October 6, 2018, it was revealed that a second person allegedly died from an allergic reaction to a Pret product.
The unnamed patron died on December 27, 2017 after reportedly eating a "super-veg rainbow flatbread" that was supposed to be dairy-free.
The chain said it had been mis-sold a guaranteed dairy-free yogurt used in the snack that was found to contain dairy protein.
The customer collapsed and died on December 27 last year after buying the sandwich in a store in Stall Street, Bath.
The tragedy came a year after the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, from Fulham, South West London.
She collapsed on board a flight in July 2016 and later died after eating an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette she had bought at a Pret outlet in Heathrow Airport.
Has Pret issued another statement?
Referring to the second death, Pret said that the mis-sold yoghurt "is believed to have resulted in the tragic death of a customer from an allergic reaction in December 2017.
"As soon as Pret was made aware of this incident by Bath Council, it withdrew all affected products.
"Subsequent testing by Pret and two independent authorities found that the COYO dairy-free yoghurt contained traces of dairy protein.
"Pret informed the Food Standards Agency, which led to a national product recall from all supermarkets and businesses supplied by COYO.
"Pret terminated its relationship with COYO UK and is in the process of taking legal action.
"Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of our customer in this terrible case and we will seek to assist them in any way we can."
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Can you die from an allergic reaction?
It is possible to die from a severe allergic reaction, known as anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis is rapid in onset and causes an itchy rash, throat or tongue swelling, shortness of breath, vomiting, lightheadedness, and low blood pressure.
A person can also experience loss of consciousness.
These symptoms typically come on over minutes or hours, and in extreme cases can result in death.
