12-Year-Old Dies After Drinking Milkshake Containing Undisclosed Allergens

A 12-year-old girl died from anaphylactic shock after consuming a milkshake containing undeclared allergens, a coroner's report determined. Mia Shay St. Hilaire was visiting a cafe in London with her aunt and sister when she ordered a Twix milkshake. St. Hilaire had a severe tree nut allergy, but the Pop Inn cafe owner, Baris Yucel, had used the same blender to make a hazelnut-containing Kinder Bueno milkshake immediately before preparing her order without cleaning the appliance.

CCTV footage reportedly captured Yucel making St. Hilaire’s milkshake without first cleaning the blender. Shortly after consuming the drink, St. Hilaire developed rapidly progressing anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that can affect multiple body systems. She later collapsed at her aunt’s home and received emergency treatment before being transferred to the intensive care unit at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where she died in August 2023.

Her parents stated that if the cafe had properly understood and implemented allergy management responsibilities, Mia might still be alive. "We want to make sure that change is Mia’s legacy so that we can help to save lives in the future," they said in a statement. "Mia was, and is, deeply loved and she will never be forgotten."

Following St. Hilaire's death, the Pop Inn cafe was fined £18,000 (approximately $24,000 USD). Yucel pleaded guilty to six violations of the Food Safety Act, including failing to make allergen advice available to customers, not managing contamination during food production, and serving food containing an allergen that was not declared. He was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and no longer owns the cafe.

Yucel's lawyer told Southwark News that the judge acknowledged Yucel's genuine remorse and that he had taken steps to educate himself on allergy management. "Mr. Yucel has had to live with the consequences of what happened and a day does not go by when he does not think about the child and her family," the lawyer added.

In the United States, approximately one in 13 children have a food allergy, with 42% experiencing severe reactions. Food Allergy Research and Education reports that annually, 3.4 million emergency room visits are related to food allergies. Anaphylaxis, the severe allergic reaction St. Hilaire experienced, is rare but can be fatal, with about 225 deaths per year in the US, though most are attributed to drug allergies. Food allergy safety regulations in the US vary by state and city. St. Hilaire's parents advocate for improved allergy management systems in food businesses, suggesting a dedicated, clearly displayed rating for allergy management, similar to food hygiene ratings.