Girl, 12, Allegedly Dies After Allergic Reaction to Unwashed Blender Milkshake
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A 12-year-old girl died after suffering a severe allergic reaction from a contaminated milkshake made in an unwashed blender at a café in southeast London. Mia St Hilaire, who had a known tree nut allergy, tragically passed away in August 2023 after consuming a milkshake from the Pop Inn Café on Southwark Park Road.
Investigators determined that the drink contained traces of hazelnuts and almonds left behind from a previous order made in the same machine. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Mia could not be saved. Following an investigation, the café was fined £18,000, and its proprietor, Baris Yucel, was sentenced to 100 hours of community service after admitting to six criminal charges under the Food Safety Act, told BBC.
Southwark Council’s food safety team provided key evidence, including CCTV footage, showing that Yucel failed to properly clean the blender before preparing Mia’s milkshake. This failure, they argued, led directly to her fatal reaction. “This was an entirely preventable tragedy,” a Southwark Council spokesperson said.
“Food safety regulations exist to protect customers, and in this case, their violation had devastating consequences.” Mia’s parents, Adrian and Chanel St Hilaire, expressed their heartbreak over their daughter’s avoidable death. “We think of Mia every day,” they said in a statement.
“Knowing her death could potentially have been prevented so simply only adds to how heartbroken we are as a family.” The case has reignited concerns over food safety and allergy awareness in the hospitality industry. Advocacy groups are now calling for stricter enforcement of allergen protocols and better training for food service workers to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Under UK food safety laws, businesses are required to take all reasonable precautions to prevent cross-contamination, especially when handling allergens. However, incidents like Mia’s continue to highlight dangerous lapses in compliance.
Mia’s tragic death serves as a painful reminder of the severe consequences of food safety negligence. As her family mourns their loss, officials urge cafés, restaurants, and food establishments to take greater care in protecting customers with allergies. Southwark Council has since pledged to step up inspections and enforcement efforts to ensure that such a tragedy does not happen again.
