New legislation will come into effect later this year with the aim of protecting allergy sufferers in the island.

From October 1, food businesses will be legally required to provide a full list of ingredients, which highlights the presence of common allergens, on foods that are pre-packaged for direct sale on their premises.

It is hoped the new rules will not only protect allergy sufferers, but will also improve their confidence in the food they buy.

The move follows the death of the Fulham teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2016.

The 15-year-old suffered a severe allergic reaction to an undeclared ingredient found in a pre-packed baguette.

Natasha was extremely allergic to sesame and bought an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette from a Pret a Manger store at Heathrow airport.

It did not have any allergen advice on its wrapper because, as it was made on the premises, it was not required by law.

Following a five-day inquest into her death, Coroner Dr Séan Cummings criticised the sandwich chain for failing to properly alert customers to potentially fatal allergens, warning that its signs were ’inadequate.’

The new law, known as Natasha’s law, will also apply to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland where it is estimated that one in five people suffer from an allergy.

A Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) spokesperson, said: ’We encourage all food businesses to work with us to get this right as ultimately it can save lives.’

’Natasha’s law will also protect those who suffer with allergies and give people greater confidence.’

Allergens are substances that can cause an allergic reaction when the body sees them as a dangerous or foreign substance and the immune system responds defensively.

These reactions can range from minor rashes to anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal.

There are 14 major allergens: celery, cereals containing gluten (such as barley and oats), crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs and lobsters), eggs, fish, lupin, milk, molluscs (such as mussels and oysters), mustard, peanuts, sesame, soybeans, sulphur dioxide and sulphites (if they are at a concentration of more than ten parts per million) and tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts).

Under the new rules, these 14 allergens must be clearly identified on pre-packed items such as sandwiches and salads - as part of a full list of ingredients.

This includes food that consumers select themselves, for example from a display unit, as well as products kept behind a counter, or some food sold at mobile or temporary outlets. A food allergens webpage has been published on the DEFA website to provide guidance and practical help for businesses, who can also contact DEFA by telephone on 685894 or by emailing [email protected] if they have any questions or require advice.