Schoolgirl, 12, suddenly dies after drinking cafe’s milkshake – as devastated family say ‘we think of her every day’
A SCHOOLGIRL, 12, died suddenly after drinking a milkshake as her heartbroken family pay tribute.
Mia Shay St Hilaire suffered a severe allergic reaction after visiting Pop Inn Café, in Bermondsey, London, with her aunt and sister in August 2023.
The young girl, who had a tree nut allergy, was rushed to hospital after ingesting the contaminated drink but tragically died.
Mia's devastated parents, Adrian and Chanel said: "We think of Mia every day and knowing her death could potentially have been prevented so simply, only adds to how heartbroken we are as a family.”
Southwark Council’s food and safety team discovered the blender used to make the 12-year-old's milkshake had not been cleaned properly.
An investigation found traces of almonds and hazelnuts in the machine from a previous drink.
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CCTV evidence showed the café operator, Baris Yucel, failing to clean the blender before preparing Mia's beverage.
The 47-year-old appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to six food safety charges.
They included failing to make allergen advice available and visible to customers, failing to manage allergen contamination and serving food that contained an allergenic ingredient that should not have been present.
He was given a 100-hour community order and fined £18,000.
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Adrian and Chanel said they hoped the fine would send a "loud message" to fellow businesses.
As reported by , Michelle Victor, a partner at Leigh Day representing Mia’s family, said: “Mia and all other children with allergies should be able to feel safe knowing that businesses serving food and drink adhere to food safety legislation put in place to protect their lives.
“But unfortunately, far too often we see that this doesn’t happen, which can have tragic consequences such as in this case.
“We are continuing to support Mia’s family and, while no outcome will ever make up for the loss they have suffered, this criminal prosecution is an important part of their fight to achieve justice for all those suffering with food allergies.”
An Inquest into Mia's death is set to take place at a later date.
The signs of an allergic reaction and anaphylaxis + what to do
SYMPTOMS of an allergy usually occur within minutes of contact with with the offending food or trigger, but they can also come on up to one hour later.
Most allergic reactions are mild but they can also be moderate or severe.
Anaphylaxis is the most severe form of allergic reaction which can be life threatening.
In some cases, anaphylaxis symptoms lead to collapse and unconsciousness and, on rare occasions, can be fatal so it's important to know how to recognise them and act quickly.
Mild to moderate symptoms include:
- Itchy mouth, tongue and throat
- Swelling of lips, around the eyes or face
- Red raised itchy rash (often called nettle rash, hives or urticaria)
- Vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea
- Runny nose and sneezing
Severe symptoms of anaphylaxis include:
- Swelling of your throat and tongue
- Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast
- Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice
- Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing
- Feeling tired or confused
- Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting
- Skin that feels cold to the touch
- Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet
Anaphylaxis and its symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency.
Follow these steps if you think you or someone you're with is having an anaphylactic reaction:
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) if you have one – instructions are included on the side of the injector.
- Call 999 for an ambulance and say that you think you're having an anaphylactic reaction.
- Lie down – you can raise your legs, and if you're struggling to breathe, raise your shoulders or sit up slowly (if you're pregnant, lie on your left side).
- If you have been stung by an insect, try to remove the sting if it's still in the skin.
- If your symptoms have not improved after 5 minutes, use a second adrenaline auto-injector.
Do not stand or walk at any time, even if you feel better.
Sources: Allergy UK, NHS