The death of the 21-year-old champion hurdler from anaphylactic shock after one bite of a chicken sandwich highlighted the problems faced by nut allergy sufferers.

Liberal Democrat MP Edward Davey called for action to force food sellers to label everything on sale.

In a short Commons debate on the issue, he said it was time for the government to "get tough".

Edward Davey: The MP told the House nut allergy awareness campaigns had failed

The Kingston and Surbiton MP told the House: "This talented young man was in prime physical condition.

"When a fit, gifted athlete like him dies because of a few bites of a chicken sandwich, it is surely our duty to ask whether or not his death and deaths like it could have been avoided.

"We need to ask whether or not actions this House has the power to take could help prevent such tragedies in the future."

'Time to get tough'

With the increasing use of nuts in food, even careful eaters, aware of their allergy, could be caught out. Ministers had launched an awareness campaign, but there was much more to be done, he said.

"Having tried awareness campaigns, it is time to get tough."

Mr Davey pointed out there were no regulations or code of practice covering what restaurant menus should tell customers about nuts and other allergens.

"Yet in the case of allergens like nuts the need to inform customers can be a matter of life or death."

He added action was needed to crack down on the labelling of packaged foods, for example where manufacturers used the catch-all "insurance policy" warning that a product "may" contain nuts, known as "defensive" labelling.

Ross Baillie: Died from anaphylactic shock after one bite of a chicken sandwich

Mr Davey insisted action need not be bad for the food industry because there were commercial opportunities in producing nut-free products.

Food Safety Minister Jeff Rooker said the government planned to consult on a code of practice for the catering industry.

But he was unable to promise immediate legislation on better labelling of food products in shops and on restaurant menus.

Stressing that he was "not threatening or promising legislation", he said the example of legislation with regard to genetically-modified (GM) organisms in food could nevertheless be followed.

"What I'm saying is if it's practical to do it for the industry, to be able to inform customers and for themselves to be trained to know what ingredients they're using in respect of GMs, they ought to be able to do it in respect of nuts."

He described "defensive" labelling as a "lawyer's response" and promised the government would pursue the matter with the packaging industry.

True death toll higher

Campaigners believe the true death toll from peanut allergies may be much higher than previously realised.

Before the debate, Anaphylaxis Campaign director David Reading said studies showed one child in 200 now suffered from peanut allergy.

The number of deaths had also increased markedly in recent years as peanuts become more widely used and allergies in general become increasingly common.

While only a small number of deaths each year are recorded as caused by peanut allergies, hundreds of others could be related to anaphylaxis.