After meeting Owen’s sister, a Winchester resident, two months ago, Steve Brine has been backing the family’s campaign for a change in the law to prevent other families suffering their agony.
Owen Carey was just 18 when he suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction after eating a chicken burger, which was stated on the menu as being plain grilled, at a restaurant in London.
The latest milestone in the campaign came as Mr Brine brought Owen’s family in front of the Minister for Food, Farming and Fisheries at the Department of Food and Rural Affair, Mark Spencer MP.
Owen’s father, sister and brother made a short presentation on their campaign and presented the Minister a copy of the impacts statements which supporters worked with the family on. The family’s main request to Mr Spencer was to direct the Food Standards Agency to accelerate their work on Owen’s Law and change the regulations.
The MP for Winchester and Chandler’s Ford who brought the two parties together has suggested that the necessary legislative changes could be put in place very easily through ‘Delegated Legislation’. Mr Brine said : “I was proud to be able to my bit and get Owen’s family in front of the Minister, their campaign is vital to ensure their tragedy is not repeated. I know many of my Parliamentary colleagues, of all parties, will back this so let’s honour Owen and all those impacted by food intolerances.”
