A father is urgently appealing to the government to enforce a change in law regarding allergen labeling in restaurants, following the tragic death of his son, Owen Carey.

Owen Carey's Tragic Death

Owen, aged 18, died in April 2017 after suffering a severe allergic reaction to dairy present in a grilled chicken breast at a Byron Burger restaurant in London’s O2 Arena. Despite informing staff of his allergies, Owen was not informed that the chicken was marinated in buttermilk.

He collapsed 45 minutes after eating and was later pronounced dead at St Thomas’s Hospital. The coroner’s inquest in 2019 confirmed that Owen was not informed about the allergens that caused his fatal reaction. He had been assured his chicken was ‘plain grilled’ and safe for consumption.

The Campaign for 'Owen's Law'

For nearly a decade, Owen’s family has campaigned for ‘Owen’s Law,’ which would require restaurants to clearly display allergen information – the 14 regulated allergens – on menus using symbols, numbers, or words. Currently, allergen information is only provided verbally upon request.

Call for Legal Mandate

Paul Carey, Owen’s father, emphasizes the danger faced by allergy sufferers when dining out and the potential for similar tragedies. He believes that clear, written allergen labeling would have saved his son’s life.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) supports the campaign and issued guidance in March 2023 recommending written allergen information at the point of ordering, but this guidance lacks the force of law.

The family is scheduled to meet with Dame Angela Eagle, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, on April 27th to push for the guidance to be legally mandated.

Years of Advocacy and Frustration

Mr. Carey expresses frustration at the prolonged delay, noting that it will be ten years since Owen’s death next year. He questions why the government hasn’t acted despite the FSA’s support. Anaphylaxis UK also backs the campaign.

The family hopes to see the law implemented by April 22, 2027, the tenth anniversary of Owen’s passing. Their website details the harrowing events of that day, describing Owen’s rapidly deteriorating condition and the unsuccessful attempts to revive him.