How my fussy toddler spawned a baby food empire

Children's food author Annabel Karmel is said to have transformed the way parents think about cooking for babies and children. But her food empire was born out of tragedy. After the death of her first child Natasha at just three months old, Annabel’s grief ran so deep, she ended up giving up a successful career as a professional harpist and made up her mind to create a meaningful legacy out of her daughter's death. When she had her second child, a son named Nicholas and a fussy eater, she began to explore child nutrition, experimenting with different flavours and her breakout book The Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner was launched.

Anaïs Bordier had no idea her identical twin sister was on the other side of the world until she saw a YouTube video of a woman who looked remarkably like her. It turned out to be American film actress Samantha Futerman. Anaïs tracked her doppelgänger down, and they agreed to speak online. Turns out they were both born in South Korea and separated at birth. Anaïs was adopted by a French family, and Samantha was adopted by an American one. They told Jo Fidgen what happened when they met in person. This interview was first broadcast in December 2018.

Presenter: Asya Fouks

Producers: Hetal Bapodra and June Christie

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(Photo: Annabel Karmel standing at her kitchen worktop with lots of vegetables in front of her about to prepare a healthy meal. Credit: Ant Duncan)