A tragic incident in South-East London led to the death of 12-year-old Mia St Hilaire, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction after drinking a milkshake at the Pop Inn Café. Mia, who had a known tree nut allergy, drank a shake that had been contaminated with traces of hazelnuts and almonds from a previous milkshake made in the same unwashed blender,
Despite the café’s failure to follow food safety protocols, the incident could have been prevented. Investigations found that the café owner, Baris Yucel, neglected basic allergen precautions. Yucel pleaded guilty to six criminal charges and was fined $23,000 and sentenced to 100 hours of community service. Mia’s parents expressed deep sorrow, noting their heartbreak over the preventability of the tragedy. This case underscores the importance of proper allergen management in food businesses to prevent such devastating incidents. An inquest into Mia’s death is pending.
