Fury as Alan Carr puts coriander in mouth of allergic woman for a ‘joke’ – as mother of 14-year-old girl who died from allergic reaction to Pret sandwich lambasts him for not taking it seriously
- Ms Edwardes said he picked up the herb and stuffed it into the woman’s mouth
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Comedian Alan Carr was facing a backlash from allergy campaigners last night after stuffing coriander into the mouth of a member of his team who is allergic to the herb.
Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, whose daughter Natasha died at 15 of a reaction to sesame in a Pret A Manger sandwich, said she was furious about Carr’s treatment of the woman during an interview with Guardian journalist Charlotte Edwardes.
Ms Edwardes wrote that Carr, 46, refused to believe that the woman, who was present for the interview, was allergic to the herb after he spotted her removing it from a salad.
Ms Edwardes said he picked up the coriander and stuffed it into the woman’s mouth, adding: ‘ ‘See!’ he declares, triumphant. ‘You’re not really allergic. If you were, you’d be dead by now’. He cackles. Everyone else cackles. It’s like the canned laughter of witches.’
While coriander is not one of the most prevalent 14 allergens, it can cause a reaction, including asthma, nasal swelling, hives, or swelling in the mouth.
Comedian Alan Carr, pictured, was facing a backlash from allergy campaigners last night after stuffing coriander into the mouth of a member of his team who is allergic to the herb
Alan pictured on Chatty Man’s 100th episode – Series 11, episode five
Mrs Ednan-Laperouse, whose daughter died after she ate an artichoke, olive and tapenade baguette at Heathrow in July 2016, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It is really depressing that in this day and age we have to point out that food allergies are not funny. We are contacted by families who have lost loved ones from food allergy and the conversations we have, I can promise, are anything but funny.
‘More people have food allergies than ever before, and they disproportionately affect children.
‘Almost any food including coriander can trigger an allergic reaction. It is, potentially, incredibly dangerous of Alan Carr to feed someone – as a joke – with food they might be allergic to. It is also irresponsible of The Guardian to repeat and trivialise his behaviour.
‘Far too many children grow up dealing with the ignorance that belittles their condition and fuels bullying in the school playground.
‘If Alan would like to meet families who have suffered this way, we would introduce him to the reality of how difficult living with food allergies is. He would not find it funny.’
Mrs Ednan-Laperouse and her husband Nadim set up The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation after their daughter died, and won their fight for Natasha’s Law, making food retailers display full ingredients and allergens on all items.
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