A 25-YEAR-OLD professional dancer has died from a fatal allergic reaction after eating a mislabeled cookie.
Órla Baxendale went into anaphylactic shock from a severe allergic reaction on January 11 after she ate cookies sold at Stew Leonard’s that contained peanuts, which was not declared on the product's packaging.
Signs of anaphylactic shock caused by an allergic reaction may include itchy skin, red skin rash, swollen eyes, lips, hands, and feet; and may also lead to blood pressure drop and blockage of airways, according to the .
-based grocer Stew Leonard's released a statement on Wednesday, claiming the manufacturer, Cookies United, did not inform them of the ingredient change to their Vanillia Florentine Cookies.
“It was a holiday cookie. It was a one-shot deal," the grocer's president and CEO, Stew Leonard Jr., said in a video statement to local CBS affiliate .
"We bought it from an outside supplier, and unfortunately, this supplier changed the recipe and started going from soy nuts to peanuts. Our chief safety officer was never notified."
Leonard Jr. said the company takes leveling very seriously.
However, Cookies United said it did inform the grocery chain about the ingredient change last July.
"This product is sold under the Stew Leonard's brand and repackaged at their facilities. The incorrect label was created by, and applied to, their product by Stew Leonard's," Cookies United said in a statement.
The manufacturer's statement contained images of the updated cookie labels sent to 11 of Stew Lenaord's employees on July 20, 2023, with the Vanilla Florentine Cookies packaging stating peanuts as an ingredient.
Baxendale, who was originally from the , had been living in for six years as she pursued a dancing career.
Family attorney Marijo Adimey said the 25-year-old's death was preventable.
"Preliminary investigation has revealed that Órla's death occurred due to the gross negligence and reckless conduct of the manufacturer and/or sellers who failed to properly identify the contents of the cookie on the packaging," Adimey said.
"This failure in proper disclosure has led to this devastating yet preventable outcome."
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection said the cookies were sold in Newington and Danbury between November 6 and December 31, 2023.
The department warned that anyone who purchased the cookies and has a peanut allergy is advised to toss the product immediately.
Stew Leonard's said customers can return the cookies at any of their seven locations for a full refund.
