Pret a Manger supplier hits back at claims its products killed a second allergic customer at sandwich shop in 2017
A Pret a Manger supplier has hit back at claims that its yoghurt killed an allergic customer.
Pret a Manger says a supposedly dairy-free yoghurt from supplier Coyo contained traces of a dairy protein, causing the death of a customer in its Bath store on 27 December last year.
It is the second recent death from an allergic reaction to Pret food after the death of teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who collapsed from an allergy to sesame seeds in a Pret baguette.
“We stopped selling all affected products as soon as we were made aware of this incident,” Pret said, adding it was taking legal action against the supplier.
It said it had alerted the Food Standards Authority, leading to a nationwide recall of all Coyo flavours in February.
The FSA said at the time: “The products are a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents.
“If you have bought any of the above products and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents do not eat it.
But Coyo said Pret's claims were "unfounded". A spokesperson told City PM all recalled products were produced in January, after the death of the customer.
It said Pret had no tests from yoghurt produced before January which showed traces of diary.
Coyo said it only started collaborating with the supplier responsible for the contamination in January.
“We urge all parties to work together, and not to speculate on the cause of this tragic death which is unknown as far as we are aware and is still being investigated by the coroners court,” the company said.
The customer in Bath is reported to have bought a vegan super-veg rainbow flatbread.
Pret said: “Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of our customer in this terrible case and we will look to help them in any way we can.”
On Wednesday the company announced it will list all ingredients on its products in response to the death of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse.