A tragic incident occurred in February 2023 when a 13-year-old girl named Hannah Jacobs died after drinking a hot chocolate from Costa Coffee in Barking, East London. Hannah, who had severe allergies to dairy, egg, fish, and wheat, suffered a suspected anaphylactic reaction after consuming the beverage, which was mistakenly made with cow’s milk instead of the requested soya milk.
On the day of the incident, Hannah and her mother were on their way to a dentist appointment when they stopped by Costa Coffee. Despite her mother informing the barista about Hannah’s severe dairy allergy, the hot chocolate Hannah received contained dairy milk. After just one sip, Hannah realized the mistake. The family rushed to a nearby pharmacy, where she was given an EpiPen, but unfortunately, it was not enough to save her. Hannah was later pronounced dead after efforts to resuscitate her failed.
This tragic event highlights the dangers of food allergies, especially for young children who are more vulnerable to severe reactions. The inquest into Hannah’s death is set to take place soon, with 11 witnesses expected to testify. The case has reignited calls for better awareness and handling of food allergies in the UK.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent allergen controls in the food and beverage industry and the devastating consequences that can occur when these controls fail
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