The family of Celia Marsh, a mother of five who died after consuming a sandwich purported to be dairy-free from Pret A Manger, has been awarded a £1.25 million ($1.7 million) compensation settlement at the High Court in London. Ms Marsh, 42, suffered a fatal allergic reaction in December 2017 during a Christmas shopping trip in Bath. The dental nurse collapsed after eating a “vegan rainbow” flatbread that she believed was safe, but which was actually contaminated with milk protein.
The legal settlement follows years of investigation into the circumstances of her death. Under the terms approved by the High Court, the manufacturer of the yogurt used in the sandwich, Planet Coconut Ltd, will be responsible for 75% of the payout through its insurers, while Pret A Manger will cover the remaining 25%. The court heard that the parties had negotiated the split of liability after initial disagreements over joint responsibility.
At the heart of the tragedy was a supply chain failure involving a coconut yogurt alternative. An inquest in 2022 revealed that a specific ingredient in the yogurt had become cross-contaminated with milk during its manufacture. Highlighting the severity of the oversight, the coroner’s report noted, “The manufacturer of the dairy-free yogurt had in its possession documents which flagged this risk but this risk was not passed on to its customers.”
Marsh’s family described her as a woman who lived in “constant fear” of her allergy and was meticulous about her safety. Having survived a near-fatal reaction months earlier that required 15 shots of adrenaline, she “religiously avoided” dairy. Her eldest daughter, Ashleigh Grice, told the court that her mother checked food labels obsessively, “often triple-checking” everything she ate to ensure it was safe for her milk allergy.
The incident unfolded rapidly as Marsh walked with her husband, Andy, and three of her daughters. Within 15 minutes of eating the wrap, she suffered an acute reaction. Despite administering her own epinephrine auto-injector and receiving assistance from a passing first aider, she collapsed in the street and died in the hospital shortly after. Her husband, who led the legal claim, has previously described his late wife as his “best friend.”
Following the inquest, senior coroner Maria Voisin issued a firm statement on food safety standards, stating in her report: “A product which is marked ‘dairy-free’ should be free from dairy.” She also called for a national system to record severe allergic reactions as an “early warning” for contaminated products, arguing that such a framework could prevent future fatalities.
The tragedy has already had a significant impact on UK food regulations. The Food Standards Agency updated its labeling guidance in response to the coroner’s recommendations, focusing specifically on the accuracy of “free from” and “vegan” claims. Master Mark Gidden, the High Court judge who approved the settlement, said he was “content” with the resolution of the family’s long-running legal battle for accountability.
