RESOURCES from a Worcester lab have played a huge role in uncovering whether a woman died after eating a cafe-bought vegan wrap contained milk. 

Paul Hancock, who is an analytical chemist, tested the ingredients of a super-veg rainbow flatbread for milk after Celia Marsh, 42, died less than two hours after eating it from Pret A Manger in Bath.

Testing of the rainbow veg wrap found 0.55mg/kg of milk protein – below the level at which it can be reliably measured by accepted testing procedures.

However, testing by Mr Hancock at Worcester Scientific Services laboratory, in Wainwright Road, on two other pots of yoghurt found 3.1mg/kg of milk protein in one and 3.4mg/kg in another.

The mum-of-five had an acute dairy allergy and was described as someone who would religiously avoid dairy products. 

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Worcester News: Celia Marsh and her husband Andy (Leigh Day/PA) Celia Marsh and her husband Andy (Leigh Day/PA) (Image: Celia Marsh and her husband Andy (Leigh Day/PA))

The yoghurt came from an Australian brand CoYo, which was licensed for manufacture in the UK to the British firm Planet Coconut.

Mr Hancock said he found 0.55mg/kg of milk protein in the vegan wrap and tested two more pots and found 3.1mg/kg of milk protein in one and 3.4mg/kg in another.

The chemist, who works for Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: “Using the supporting evidence of other analysis, looking at the whole product, the fact CoYo yoghurt had milk in it, looking at the whole picture with the other ingredients.

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"I think it would be reasonable to deduce there was milk in the super veg rainbow wrap.

Worcester News: Celia Marsh, centre, with four of her five daughters, Brenne Grice, Ashleigh Grice, Kayleigh Grice aCelia Marsh, centre, with four of her five daughters, Brenne Grice, Ashleigh Grice, Kayleigh Grice a (Image: Celia Marsh, centre, with four of her five daughters, Brenne Grice, Ashleigh Grice, Kayleigh Grice a)

“It will be for the court to decide if the milk protein present was sufficient to cause a reaction in Mrs Marsh.”

Mrs Marsh had been on a post-Christmas shopping trip with her husband and three of her daughters when she went into Pret at around 2pm on December 27 in 2017. 

The whole of the wrap had been eaten, and the pot of CoYo yoghurt used to make it was thrown away before Bath and North East Somerset Council began its investigation. 

Testing on other pots found small quantities of dairy protein in the product, with traces found in another rainbow wrap.

Pret was charged with food safety failures after Mrs Marsh’s death but the prosecution was dropped due to lack of evidence.

Guy Meakin, interim managing director of Pret a Manger, expressed his 'extreme sorrow' to the family of Mrs Marsh for their loss.

He told the inquest: "If we had known it had contained milk products we would never have used it."

He said all products are now labelled with ingredients and Pret had introduced allergen risk assessments.