A 12-year-old girl with a severe hazelnut allergy died after suffering a fatal allergic reaction from a milkshake prepared in an unwashed blender at a London café, an inquest has determined.

Mia Shay St Hilaire</Mentioned Person> suffered anaphylaxis after drinking the milkshake at the Pop Inn Café in Bermondsey, London, during a visit with family in August 2023. The inquest, held at Inner South London Coroner’s Court on Oct. 8, concluded that the drink had been contaminated with hazelnut residue left behind from a previously prepared milkshake.

Evidence presented during the hearing included CCTV footage showing café operator Baris Yucel</Mentioned Person> using a blender that had not been washed before preparing Mia’s drink.

Despite emergency efforts and her transfer to the intensive care unit at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Mia could not be saved.

Assistant Coroner Briony Ballard</Mentioned Person> ruled that the milkshake had been cross-contaminated with traces of hazelnut from an earlier beverage prepared in the same blender. The resulting allergic reaction progressed rapidly, causing Mia to collapse later at her aunt’s home.

The tragedy prompted legal action against the café. In January 2025, Yucel pleaded guilty to six food safety and allergen-related offenses after Southwark Council brought the case.

The violations included failing to provide visible allergen information to customers, not adequately preventing allergen cross-contamination during food preparation, and serving food that contained undeclared allergens. The case has renewed concerns about allergen awareness and food safety practices in restaurants and cafés, particularly for customers with life-threatening food allergies.

AI contributed to this article

Courtesy: People.com