Pret A Manger. The name alone conjures images of hurried Londoners, clutching their artisanal sandwiches and ethically sourced coffees, weaving through the city’s chaos like it’s some kind of culinary ballet. But let’s cut the crap. Behind the glass counters and the faux-friendly baristas lies a company that’s been marinating in controversy for years. And not the kind that makes you raise an eyebrow over your flat white – we’re talking life-and-death shit, the kind that should make you spit out your overpriced latte in disgust.
Welcome to the underbelly of Pret A Manger, where the only thing fresher than their baguettes is their ability to dodge accountability. This isn’t just a story about a sandwich shop gone wrong; it’s a tale of corporate negligence, human tragedy, and a brand that’s been serving up bullshit alongside its artisan breads. So, grab your reusable cup and buckle up, because we’re about to rip the lid off this pretentious, over-hyped chain and expose the rot festering beneath.
The Allergen Apocalypse: When Sandwiches Kill
Let’s start with the worst of it, the stuff that should have buried Pret six feet under: the allergen-related deaths. Yeah, you read that right. People have died because of Pret’s sandwiches. Not from some dodgy ham or a rogue E. coli outbreak, but from allergic reactions that could have been prevented with something as basic as proper labelling.
Take Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, a 15-year-old girl who, in 2016, bit into a Pret baguette at Heathrow Airport, blissfully unaware that it contained sesame seeds – an allergen she was severely allergic to. The packaging didn’t mention it. Why? Because Pret was exploiting a legal loophole that allowed them to skip full ingredient labelling since their food was “made on-site.” Natasha collapsed mid-flight and died. Her parents were left devastated, and Pret? They issued a statement, promised to do better, and carried on slinging sandwiches.
Then, in 2017, Celia Marsh, a 42-year-old mother, grabbed a super-veg rainbow flatbread from Pret, trusting it was dairy-free as advertised. It wasn’t. The yoghurt in the wrap was contaminated with dairy, and Celia, who had a severe dairy allergy, died after eating it. Another life lost, another family shattered, and Pret’s response? More promises, more “we’re reviewing our processes,” more nothing.
These weren’t isolated fuck-ups. They were the result of systemic failure. Pret was selling 218 million products a year without bothering to list allergens properly. The coroner in Natasha’s case, Séan Cummings, didn’t mince words: the labelling was “inadequate” and “unclear.” Pret’s defence? They were following the law. But let’s be real – just because something’s legal doesn’t mean it’s not morally bankrupt. And when your loophole costs lives, you don’t get to hide behind regulations.
After the public outcry, Pret finally introduced full labelling in 2018. But for Natasha and Celia, it was too late. And for the rest of us, it begs the question: how many other potential disasters are lurking in those brightly lit fridges?
Frozen in Fear: The Employee Who Nearly Died for a Paycheck
If dead customers weren’t enough to make you choke on your crayfish salad, let’s talk about how Pret treats its own staff. In 2021, an employee at the Victoria Coach Station shop was trapped in a walk-in freezer for over two hours. She was wearing jeans and a T-shirt, and the temperature was set to -18°C. That’s not just cold; that’s hypothermia territory. She was found shaking, struggling to breathe, and had to be rushed to hospital.
This wasn’t a freak accident. It was negligence, plain and simple. Pret had no proper risk assessment for the freezer, and this wasn’t even the first time it happened – there was a similar incident in 2020. The company pleaded guilty to health and safety offences and was fined £800,000 in 2023. Pocket change for a company raking in millions, but a stark reminder that Pret’s priorities are as frozen as their stock.
Imagine being that employee, clawing at the door, your breath crystallising in front of you, wondering if this is how it ends – trapped in a Pret freezer, surrounded by tomorrow’s tuna melts. It’s the kind of nightmare that should have unions screaming, but Pret’s slick PR machine spun it as an “isolated incident.” Bullshit. This is what happens when you cut corners on safety to keep the profits rolling in.
“Natural” Lies: The Art of Greenwashing Your Lunch
Now, let’s talk about the food itself. Pret’s whole shtick is that it’s “natural,” “fresh,” and “good for you.” But scratch the surface, and you’ll find a company that’s been peddling lies as smoothly as it peddles its avocado wraps.
In 2018, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned two of Pret’s ads for being misleading. The ads claimed their food was “natural,” but guess what? Some of their products contained E-numbers – additives that most people wouldn’t exactly call “natural.” Pret’s defence? They said “natural” meant “fresh and freshly prepared.” Right, because nothing says “fresh” like a stabiliser or a preservative.
But it gets worse. In 2020, a class-action lawsuit in the US accused Pret of selling products labelled as “natural” that actually contained GMOs and glyphosate – a pesticide linked to cancer. The lawsuit argued that Pret was exploiting consumers’ desire for healthy food while serving up chemical-laden crap. Pret’s response? They quietly adjusted their advertising, but the damage was done. Trust was shattered, and the brand’s wholesome image was exposed as a sham.
This is classic corporate greenwashing – slap a “natural” label on it, charge a premium, and hope no one looks too closely. But when you’re caught red-handed, it’s not just misleading; it’s insulting. Pret’s customers aren’t idiots, and they deserve better than to be duped by marketing buzzwords.
The Rest of the Rot: Labour Exploitation and Nazi Ties
If you’re still hungry for more, there’s plenty of other dirt to dig into. Take Pret’s labour practices, for example. In 2017, they offered 500 teenagers unpaid work experience as part of a recruitment drive, conveniently timed with Brexit looming and a shortage of EU workers. After public backlash, they backpedalled and promised to pay minimum wage – £4 an hour for under-18s, £5.55 for 18-20-year-olds, plus free food. Generous, right? For a company that made £93 million in profit that year, it’s a slap in the face.
And then there’s the ownership. Since 2018, Pret has been 90% owned by JAB Holding, controlled by the Reimann family. Their grandfather and great-grandfather were committed Nazis who used forced labour during World War II. The family has expressed shame, but the connection is there, and it’s uncomfortable as hell. When you’re sipping your organic coffee, remember that your money is lining the pockets of a family with a dark past.
The Verdict: A Sandwich Shop in Denial
Pret A Manger wants you to believe it’s the good guy of the high street – fresh, ethical, and oh-so-British. But the reality is a company that’s been caught in a web of negligence, deception, and exploitation. From dead customers to endangered employees, from misleading ads to questionable ownership, Pret’s rap sheet is longer than their queue at lunchtime.
So, next time you’re tempted by that crayfish and avocado sandwich, ask yourself: is it worth it? Is the convenience worth the cost of human lives, worker safety, and your own trust? Pret’s not just serving sandwiches; they’re serving up a masterclass in corporate denial. And until they own up to their mistakes – really own up, not just with empty statements and half-arsed policy changes – they don’t deserve your money.
It’s time to look beyond the marketing, beyond the shiny counters and the “freshly prepared” signs, and see Pret for what it really is: a company that’s been getting away with too much for too long. The next time you walk past a Pret, keep walking. There are better places to spend your lunch break – places that don’t have blood on their hands.
Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project
Sources:
- The Guardian: Pret a Manger: from high street darling to industry bogeyman
- The Guardian: Pret a Manger fined £800,000 after employee trapped in freezer
- The Independent: Pret a Manger adverts banned for being ‘misleading’
- Truth in Advertising: Pret A Manger’s Natural Claims
- The Guardian: Pret a Manger to pay work experience recruits after criticism
- Telegraph: From high street hero to chaotic chain: Pret a Manger’s fall from grace
- Wikipedia: Pret a Manger
- The Grocer: Pret a Manger defends pricing