Home / Crime and Justice / Girl, 12, Dies After Hazelnut Cross-Contamination
Girl, 12, Dies After Hazelnut Cross-Contamination
9 Oct
Summary
- A 12-year-old girl died from a severe allergic reaction.
- The reaction was caused by hazelnut residue in a milkshake.
- Parents advocate for separate allergy management ratings.
A 12-year-old girl, Mia Shay St Hilaire, tragically died in August 2023 after experiencing a severe allergic reaction. The incident occurred after she consumed a milkshake from the Pop Inn Cafe in Bermondsey, London. Investigations confirmed that the milkshake had been cross-contaminated with hazelnut residue from a previous preparation in an unwashed blender.
Cafe operator Baris Yucel pleaded guilty to six food safety offenses in January 2025, including failing to provide allergen information and managing allergen contamination. He was fined £18,000 and given a community order. Despite this, Mia's parents, Adrian St Hilaire and Chanel Spence, are calling for significant reforms.
They are urging the U.K.'s Food Standards Agency to implement separate, clearly displayed allergy management ratings for food businesses. The parents emphasized that current food hygiene ratings do not adequately inform consumers about a business's allergy protocols, and they hope Mia's death will lead to changes that prevent similar devastation for other families.
