Pret A Manger has appeared at Bristol Crown Court after a student allegedly suffered an allergic reaction from unknowingly eating sesame in a sandwich.
The firm pleaded not guilty to one charge of selling food not of the substance demanded, contrary to section 14 of the Food Safety Act 1990.
The crown court heard the charge related to an incident in which a customer allegedly suffered a severe reaction to sesame in a curried chickpea and mango sandwich.
It was not said where the alleged offence took place, but the case prosecutor is Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Kate Brunner QC, prosecuting on behalf of the council, said: "The customer was a student called Isobel Colnaghi, who bought a sandwich under the impression that it did not contain sesame, to which she was extremely allergic."
Ms Brunner alleged that the presence of sesame in the sandwich was not properly identified by the food chain.
Jonathan Laidlaw QC, representing Pret A Manger, confirmed that the firm was pleading not guilty to the charge against it.
Judge Julian Lambert listed the case for a trial, expected to last up to four weeks, on November 2.
