Death of 12-year-old girl prompts call for allergy management ratings
The family of 12-year-old Mia St Hilaire, who died from an allergic reaction to a milkshake, is calling for mandatory allergy management ratings for food businesses. An inquest found that a blender used for her drink had not been cleaned after being used for a nut-containing product.
Why it matters
Addresses critical gaps in food safety regulations and the potential for new public health policies to protect consumers with allergies.
Image source, St Hilaire family Image caption, Mia St Hilaire died after drinking a milkshake in August 2023
The family of a 12-year-old girl who died after drinking a milkshake made in an unwashed blender at a cafe have called for a dedicated rating that scores food businesses on their allergy management.
Mia St Hilaire, who had a tree nut allergy, suffered an anaphylactic shock and died after she drank a Twix milkshake at the Pop Inn Cafe in Bermondsey, south-east London, in August 2023.
Her order contained hazelnut residue because the blender had not been washed after a Kinder Bueno milkshake was made in it beforehand, an inquest concluded on Thursday.
In a statement, her family said "significant changes" were needed to protect people with food allergies.
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