A 12-year-old girl died after suffering a fatal allergic reaction to a contaminated milkshake, according to the findings of an inquest held in London. Mia Shay St Hilaire, who had a known hazelnut allergy, consumed a Twix milkshake at the Pop Inn Cafe on Southwark Park Road in August 2023. The milkshake was found to be contaminated with hazelnut residue from a previous order prepared in the same blender without proper cleaning.
The inquest, conducted at London Inner South Coroner’s Court, heard that the cafe’s operator, Baris Yucel, did not wash the blender between making a Kinder Bueno milkshake containing hazelnuts and Mia’s Twix milkshake. Assistant coroner Briony Ballard stated that this cross-contamination led to Mia developing rapidly progressing anaphylaxis shortly after drinking the milkshake. Mia subsequently collapsed at her aunt’s home before emergency services could provide treatment.
Despite extensive medical intervention, including transfer to intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Mia’s condition deteriorated, and she died. The coroner’s narrative conclusion confirmed that the severe allergic reaction was triggered by hazelnut exposure resulting from the unwashed blender.
Mia, a resident of Sydenham, was visiting the cafe with her aunt and sister on the day she consumed the contaminated drink. Her parents, Adrian and Chanel St Hilaire, issued a statement expressing gratitude for the coroner’s investigation and mourning the loss of their daughter, emphasizing that she “will never be forgotten.”
The inquest underscores the importance of strict allergen controls and hygiene practices in food service environments to prevent life-threatening allergic reactions.