Inquest finds cafe’s unclean blender caused 12-year-old’s fatal allergy reaction
A coroner ruled that a 12-year-old girl died from anaphylaxis after drinking a milkshake contaminated with hazelnut because the café failed to clean its blender.
An inquest at London Inner South Coroner’s Court concluded that 12-year-old Mia died after a milkshake, contaminated with hazelnut residue from a prior Kinder Bueno preparation, triggered a severe allergic reaction. CCTV evidence proved that café operator Baris Yucel failed to clean the blender before making the drink. Despite emergency treatment and transfer to intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Mia collapsed and later died.
Her parents, Adrian and Chanel, called for a distinct allergy-management rating to complement existing food hygiene scores, arguing that current systems do not protect those with food allergies. Baris Yucel was fined £18,000 and placed on a 100-hour community order. Legal representatives and allergy advocates, including Michelle Victor of Leigh Day and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse of Natasha’s Foundation, urged the Food Standards Agency to review and strengthen food-allergy safety regulations.
Why it matters
The case highlights gaps in food-allergy safety and may prompt new regulations to protect vulnerable consumers.
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