Safety officers have found more than 50 Islington food outlets in breach of a new law designed to protect allergy sufferers.
Freedom of Information data shows Islington Council recorded 55 violations of Natasha’s Law between its implementation on 1 October 2021 and 10 January 2023.
The 53 individual businesses found non-compliant represent two per cent of the borough’s 2,600 food outlets.
Natasha’s Law was introduced following a campaign by the parents of 15-year-old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse. Natasha died in July 2016 from a severe anaphylactic reaction after eating an inadequately labelled baguette from Pret a Manger.
Before the new law, allergy information could be provided by any means, including verbally.
Natasha’s Law requires businesses to include full ingredients labelling on pre-packed for direct sale food.
Local councils are responsible for carrying out food inspections, and outlets are not informed of these inspections in advance.
Islington cafes had 22 violations, the most of any type of outlet, while 11 breaches involved takeaways.
Other non-compliant businesses included bakeries, restaurants, stalls, butchers and delicatessens, as well as a retailer, caterer and fishmonger.
Archway Kebab Centre on Holloway Road and Japanese takeaway Katsuma on Great Sutton Street had two separate violations each.
Islington Council gave every outlet that breached Natasha’s Law a written warning, although non-compliant businesses are liable to prosecution in a magistrates’ court and, if convicted, an unlimited fine.
The council did not respond to a request for comment on its implementation of the law.
Of the 53 outlets, 35 have not been inspected since being found non-compliant. Two are awaiting new inspection results, while 16 have been inspected again and found compliant.
Carla Jones, CEO at Allergy UK, told Islington Now: “With two million people living in the UK with food allergies, there is an urgency for the needs of this community to be better and more fully understood and accommodated. Put simply, too many people are facing hurdles daily, simply to keep themselves safe every time they eat.
“This is why our patient charter, launched in 2022, clearly calls for the right to clear and accurate information in food labelling so people can make safe food choices confidently without fear of an allergic reaction. Those living with food allergies have a right to be able to live a full life without exclusion through fear of a society not taking allergy seriously.”
Full list of allergy law violations
- Coffee Tree (19 November 2021) – latest inspection
- Katsuma (25 November 2021, 29 November 2022) – compliant as of 23 February 2023
- Coco di Mama (2 February 2022) – latest inspection
- Mugen Sushi Bar (11 February 2022) – awaiting new inspection results
- Bread by Bike (14 February 2022) – latest inspection
- Fit Kitchen (17 February 2022) – latest inspection
- Coffee Berry (24 February 2022) – latest inspection
- Aperi Deli (1 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Chicken Ranch (3 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Euphorium Bakery (4 March 2022) – compliant as of 25 May 2022
- Shoreditch Grind (9 March 2022) – compliant as of 28 September 2022
- Sun Cafe (9 March 2022) – compliant as of 14 June 2022
- Fresh Meat Market (9 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Sweet Boulangerie & Patisserie (10 March 2022) – compliant as of 15 June 2022
- Bartlett Mitchell catering (10 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Cafe Metro (10 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Yildiz Bakery (10 March 2022) – compliant as of 18 November 2022
- Provisions (11 March 2022) – latest inspection
- One Way Cafe (11 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Faros Bakery (11 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Vagabond N7 (11 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Highness Cafe and Tea Room (11 March 2022) – compliant as of 3 January 2023
- Angel Kebab (11 March 2022) – compliant as of 28 July 2022
- Archway Kebab Centre (14 March 2022, 15 June 2022) – latest inspection
- Archway Kebab (14 March 2022) – compliant as of 10 June 2022
- Cricks Corner (14 March 2022) – compliant as of 21 April 2022
- KHP Social (15 March 2022) – compliant as of 7 July 2022
- Jumi Cheese (15 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Pia’s Place (17 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Green & Flavour (17 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Briki (17 March 2022) – compliant as of 15 June 2022
- Southpaw Coffee Ltd (31 March 2022) – latest inspection
- Sushi Show Take Away (1 April 2022) – compliant as of 31 August 2022
- Raab The Bakers (1 April 2022) – latest inspection
- Nibbles Sandwich Bar (1 April 2022) – compliant as of 5 December 2022
- Fab Thai Street Food (1 April 2022) – latest inspection
- Duncan Terrace Cafe (4 April 2022) – compliant as of 22 September 2022
- Bottega Italia (11 April 2022) – latest inspection
- Taste of Cyprus (12 May 2022) – latest inspection
- Holloway Fisher (19 May 2022) – latest inspection
- A&F Butchers (19 May 2022) – latest inspection
- The De Beauvoir Wholefoods (23 May 2022) – latest inspection
- Mr Chan’s (25 May 2022) – latest inspection
- K.M. Butchers (27 June 2022) – compliant as of 10 November 2022
- Green Jade (29 June 2022) – latest inspection
- Mercer & Co. (1 July 2022) – latest inspection
- Monohon Ramen (29 July 2022) – latest inspection
- Sweetea (1 September 2022) – awaiting new inspection results
- Lord Pesto stall (13 November 2022) – latest inspection
- Ravioli & Friends stall (19 November 2022) – latest inspection
- Chez Francis et Sylvie stall (19 November 2022) – latest inspection
- Addis Alem (21 December 2022) – latest inspection
- Spoon Cafe Tapas Bar (6 January 2023) – latest inspection
