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12
12-Year-Old Girl Tragically Loses Her Life After Drinking Unsafe Milkshake, Café Operator Guilty
Interview With Expert
New information has come to light regarding the case of a 12-year-old girl who lost her life after drinking a milkshake prepared in an unwashed blender.
The cafe’s operator, Baris Yucel, pleaded guilty to six criminal charges related to the Food Safety Act, and the establishment has been fined £18,000 (approx. $22,000).
An inquest into the incident will take place at a future date, the BBC reported on Monday (January 27).
Highlights
- Café operator Baris Yucel pleaded guilty to six criminal charges for serving a milkshake that contained traces of nuts.
- Twelve-year-old Mia tragically lost her life after suffering an allergic reaction to the contaminated milkshake.
- The café was fined £18,000, and Yucel was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
Mia St Hilaire had a tree nut allergy and was rushed to the hospital after drinking a milkshake at the Pop Inn Cafe on Southwark Park Road.
Her order was believed to have contained traces of hazelnuts and almonds from a previous milkshake that was made in the same blender.
RELATED:
A London café was fined £18,000 when a 12-year-old lost her life after drinking its milkshakes
Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)
Despite efforts to save her, Mia lost her life at the hospital in August 2023.
It’s recently been reported that the cafe’s operator, Baris Yucel, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates’ Court to six criminal charges related to the Food Safety Act in December 2024.
These include failing to identify risks associated with cross-contamination of allergenic ingredients and serving food that contained an allergenic ingredient that should not have been present.
The cafe has been fined £18,000, and its proprietor has been given 100 hours of community service, as per theBBC.
Image credits: Google Maps
CCTV footage showed Yucel had not cleaned the blender before making Mia’s milkshake, and there were substances left behind from the preparation of a previous drink.
Southwark Council argued that this negligence caused the girl to suffer asevere allergic reaction and that the tragedy could have been avoided.
“We think of Mia every day and knowing her death could potentially have been prevented so simply, only adds to how heartbroken we are as a family,” Mia’s parents, Adrian and Chanel, said in a statement published by Leigh Day law firm.
“We hope this conviction and fine sends a loud message to businesses serving food and drinks across the country, of the devastating consequences of failing to take food safety seriously.”
Mia St Hilaire lost her life after drinking a milkshake that was prepared in an unwashed blender
Image credits: Getty Images/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
The family’s attorney, Michelle Victor, highlighted the “tragic consequences” of businesses failing to adhere to food safety legislation.
“While no outcome will ever make up for the loss they have suffered, this criminal prosecution is an important part of their fight to achieve justice for all those suffering with food allergies,” the lawyer stated.
Councilor Natasha Ennin said she’s working to ensure that businesses in Southwark adhere to food safety rules.
“This might have been avoided if the operator of the cafe had followed simple food safety rules, and our officers will continue to work with local businesses to help ensure these are followed by all food outlets in Southwark.”
Yucel, the 47-year-old cafe operator, had been in thefood business for 22 years, according to his lawyer.
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“He took immediate steps to better educate himself in September and October 2023 and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity,” the attorney said, adding that his client felt “genuine remorse” about his actions.
“Regrettably, the cafe were not notified by the child’s guardian that the child was allergic to tree nuts and the Judge stated that apart from the lack of signage as to notifying the establishment of any food allergies/intolerances, that this would not have prevented the tragic consequences which followed.
“Mr Yucel has had to live with the consequences (of) what happened and a day does not go by when he does not think about the child and her family.”
An enforcement officer from the council has made several visits to the cafe to ensure procedures to prevent a similar incident are being followed,YourLocalGuardianreported.
Mia suffered from a nut allergy, and the milkshake contained traces of hazelnuts and almonds from a previous drink
Image credits: Vladislav Nikonov (not the actual photo)
Yucel’s attorney said Pop Inn Cafe was granted a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 in October 2023 and it remained under a full inspection by Southwark Council in September 2024.
When an individual is exposed to something they’reallergic to, they can experienceanaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. With anaphylaxis, the blood pressure drops suddenly and the airways narrow, blocking breathing.
Symptoms include a rapid, weak pulse, a skin rash, nausea, and vomiting.
It needs to betreated right away with an injection of epinephrine. If it isn’t treated immediately, it can be fatal.
The cafe’s operator pleaded guilty to six charges related to the Food Safety Act
Image credits: stock.adobe (not the actual photo)
“This is yet another death of a young person from a food allergy that should never have happened. We have met Mia’s parents on several occasions, and our hearts are absolutely broken for them and their terrible loss,”wrote The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation on social media.
“Rules around allergen safety are there to protect people with food allergies and must be taken seriously by all café and food operators. Food allergies are not a choice or preference, but a serious medical condition that can for some be fatal.
“How many more people must be hospitalized or die before all food operators realise these rules are not an optional extra, but essential for keeping their customers safe?”
To learn more about food safety regulations in England, Bored Panda reached out to award-winning food hygiene and safety expert Sylvia Anderson, who specializes in helping restaurants achieve a 5-Star Food Hygiene Rating.
“A food safety officer from the local authority will inspect your business to ensure it complies with food hygiene laws and maintains safe food handling practices. Following the inspection, your business will receive a food hygiene rating from 5 to 0,” she explained via email.
In the UK, food businesses are assigned a hygiene rating from 0 to 5, based on the hygienic handling of food, the physical conditions of the premises, and the management of food safety
During the inspection, the officer will assess different areas, including the hygienic handling of food (preparation, cooking, reheating, cooling, and storage) and the physical condition of the premises (cleanliness, ventilation, pest control, and available facilities.)
“Officers also assess the management of food safety, including processes, staff training, and systems in place to maintain hygiene standards,” notes Anderson. “This helps determine the level of confidence in your ability to sustain good hygiene practices in the future.”
The frequency of inspections is determined by several factors, including the type of food handled, the number and type of customers, particularly vulnerable groups, and the processing methods used. Higher-risk businesses are inspected more frequently than lower-risk ones.
Image credits: Piotr Szulawski (not the actual photo)
If a business is found in violation of food hygiene or safety regulations, the owner or proprietor is held legally accountable along with any individuals directly responsible for the breaches, the expert said.
Regarding the legal consequences of these breaches, Tom Walker, legal director at Blake Morgan, explained to Bored Panda that company offenses“can be punished by way of unlimited fines linked to the turnover of the business.”
“In the event of an individual failure, offenders can be imprisoned or, in the worst cases prosecuted and sentenced to imprisonment for gross negligence manslaughter.”
According to Allergy UK, around 10 people die each year in England and Wales as a result of having a food allergy. Over 20% of the population is affected by one or more allergic disorders.
“There are so many people who don’t understand the dangers of allergies,” a Facebook user wrote
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What do you think ?
Korok 10 months ago
This is not to take away from this awful tragedy but I have to manage the same issue, I would never order food/drink from a place where there is ANY risk of cross contamination, it’s just too dangerous!
AlithenewMC 10 months ago (edited)
My kids are anaphylactic to peanuts and I won't let them eat anywhere they serve anything with peanuts (eg a chocolate donut at a place that also has peanut butter cookies), even if I'm assured they "clean" everything. I don't know the people working, I can't trust them to do it properly. Makes travelling difficult, but it's why we use vbro instead of hotels- so we can have a kitchen to make our own food. Half my family is anaphylactic to peanuts as well and think I'm too strict about it, but I don't care. When my kids are adults, they can choose the risks, but while it's up to me, I'm not taking any chances.
Load More Replies...
iseefractals 10 months ago
Did no one else catch the bit where it said "Regrettably, the cafe were not notified by the child’s guardian that the child was allergic to tree nuts"? Why wouldn't they disclose that when ordering food in a place where they can't see nor directly control the contents of the food? And having failed to do so, how is anyone in the cafe responsible for failing to address something they were unaware of? And how could a judge possibly come to the conclusion that even had they been notified, that things would still have ended up exactly the same? If something has the potential to kill you, or your child....why is there an expectation that a sign should be required before you ask "tree nuts in anything? Because they'll kill my kid"
Bryn 10 months ago
Yep. This is why I don't think he should have been charged. The store fined for not following health and safety protocols, that's on them. But him charged? Nope
Load More Replies...
Deborah 10 months ago
Cross-contamination is a real thing! I will not eat anywhere that serves shellfish because there might be a residue on something that I do eat. I am massively allergic to shellfish and could end up like this poor child.
JayWantsACat 10 months ago
That's why it's crazy to me that someone would order from a place where nuts-based items are served and expect that place to be so thorough in it's cleaning as to be safe for those with nut allergies. I acknowledge that the place has the liability and responsiblity to do so but there's no way I'm trusting that.
Load More Replies...
Andrei Iepure 10 months ago
But did she mention she had allergies or just went ahead and ordered from a place that serves products that might harm her? Sure, things should have been cleaned and all that, but I'm pretty sure the guy would have washed the blender if he knew the kid had problems. What if someone with undisclosed allergies orders something that does them harm, is the server still to blame? Do they need "mind reading" as a skill? It's tragic, for sure, but it's not like the man went out of his way to cause her any harm.
Bryn 10 months ago
Her guardian did not according to the article. I don't think he should have been charged (the store fined, yes for not following food safety (just wash the damn blender!) because she didn't say anything or her guardian.
Load More Replies... FreeTheUnicorn 10 months ago
A lot of things went wrong here, one that no one has mentioned is how hard it is to get an epi pen prescription from the NHS. If yountell your GP you are travelling in a foreign country in a very remote area, they will write the scrip, but just because you don't want to die in Croydon isn't good enough. I'm lucky and was able to get one while in Ireland, but the UK would rather you go to A&E to get it, even though it took an Ambulance more than an hour to respond. Luckily my neighbour came to the rescue with one he gets from Germany. It can't possibly be saving the public money by getting an ambulance involved even if they arrive in time if you live in the UK, lie about travel and protect yourself.
Anony Mouse 10 months ago
I’m going to copy and save this for the next post about his bad American health care is. It might be expensive, but I could get an EpiPen. today if I wanted. With my insurance it would be $60.
Load More Replies...
tori Ohno 10 months ago
There's absolutely no way to guarantee that the blender used is completely contaminant free. A separate blender container, marked "nut free" should be used in this case. Even a small to trace of almond milk at a coffee shop could cause this. Was the shop owner made aware of the allergy? Not thoroughly washing a blender when the shop is busy is a common rule that's broken. It's a sad story all around.
BoredPangolin 10 months ago
Well, you're not going to educate people about food serious allergies if you take your anaphylactic daughter to order food in a place that serves all kind of allergens to her! Granted, the shop is at fault for not rincing the blender (gross) but they were not given a warning about the girl's allergy! In proper places, they have separate tools for that so they don't even have traces of the allergens. Rincing the blender like they do where I live wouldn't be enough to remove traces of nut oil. And they do it in front of you, so you know. I feel horrible for the family but at the same time, what were you thinking?! When you're anaphylactic to something as ubiquitous as nuts, dairies or eggs, you just don't even order anything in a place that even STORES those! Cross contamination is a thing, that's why packages always mention "made in a factory that also process nuts, or milk or whatever".
Sven Grammersdorf 10 months ago (edited)
Why is it gross to not wash the blender after every single use? Nobody's putting their mouth on it.
Load More Replies...
BookFanatic 10 months ago
If kiddo was there by herself, she may not have thought to mention it. I was dumb as a box of rocks when I was her age. I am not, in any way shape or form, victim blaming here. It's horrible all around.
Joe Reaves 10 months ago
Allergy or not - why are you not washing the blender between orders, especially if you're not making the exact same thing in it? He 'took the time to educate himself' after the incident but if he'd been following the basic rules of hygiene and not using implements on different things without washing them it wouldn't matter what he knew or didn't know about allergies.
Nona Jaynes 10 months ago
That's what I was thinking - why TF wouldn't you wash the blender between uses??
Load More Replies...
Korok 10 months ago
This is not to take away from this awful tragedy but I have to manage the same issue, I would never order food/drink from a place where there is ANY risk of cross contamination, it’s just too dangerous!
AlithenewMC 10 months ago (edited)
My kids are anaphylactic to peanuts and I won't let them eat anywhere they serve anything with peanuts (eg a chocolate donut at a place that also has peanut butter cookies), even if I'm assured they "clean" everything. I don't know the people working, I can't trust them to do it properly. Makes travelling difficult, but it's why we use vbro instead of hotels- so we can have a kitchen to make our own food. Half my family is anaphylactic to peanuts as well and think I'm too strict about it, but I don't care. When my kids are adults, they can choose the risks, but while it's up to me, I'm not taking any chances.
Load More Replies... iseefractals 10 months ago
Did no one else catch the bit where it said "Regrettably, the cafe were not notified by the child’s guardian that the child was allergic to tree nuts"? Why wouldn't they disclose that when ordering food in a place where they can't see nor directly control the contents of the food? And having failed to do so, how is anyone in the cafe responsible for failing to address something they were unaware of? And how could a judge possibly come to the conclusion that even had they been notified, that things would still have ended up exactly the same? If something has the potential to kill you, or your child....why is there an expectation that a sign should be required before you ask "tree nuts in anything? Because they'll kill my kid"
Bryn 10 months ago
Yep. This is why I don't think he should have been charged. The store fined for not following health and safety protocols, that's on them. But him charged? Nope
Load More Replies... Deborah 10 months ago
Cross-contamination is a real thing! I will not eat anywhere that serves shellfish because there might be a residue on something that I do eat. I am massively allergic to shellfish and could end up like this poor child.
JayWantsACat 10 months ago
That's why it's crazy to me that someone would order from a place where nuts-based items are served and expect that place to be so thorough in it's cleaning as to be safe for those with nut allergies. I acknowledge that the place has the liability and responsiblity to do so but there's no way I'm trusting that.
Load More Replies... Andrei Iepure 10 months ago
But did she mention she had allergies or just went ahead and ordered from a place that serves products that might harm her? Sure, things should have been cleaned and all that, but I'm pretty sure the guy would have washed the blender if he knew the kid had problems. What if someone with undisclosed allergies orders something that does them harm, is the server still to blame? Do they need "mind reading" as a skill? It's tragic, for sure, but it's not like the man went out of his way to cause her any harm.
Bryn 10 months ago
Her guardian did not according to the article. I don't think he should have been charged (the store fined, yes for not following food safety (just wash the damn blender!) because she didn't say anything or her guardian.
Load More Replies... FreeTheUnicorn 10 months ago
A lot of things went wrong here, one that no one has mentioned is how hard it is to get an epi pen prescription from the NHS. If yountell your GP you are travelling in a foreign country in a very remote area, they will write the scrip, but just because you don't want to die in Croydon isn't good enough. I'm lucky and was able to get one while in Ireland, but the UK would rather you go to A&E to get it, even though it took an Ambulance more than an hour to respond. Luckily my neighbour came to the rescue with one he gets from Germany. It can't possibly be saving the public money by getting an ambulance involved even if they arrive in time if you live in the UK, lie about travel and protect yourself.
Anony Mouse 10 months ago
I’m going to copy and save this for the next post about his bad American health care is. It might be expensive, but I could get an EpiPen. today if I wanted. With my insurance it would be $60.
Load More Replies... tori Ohno 10 months ago
There's absolutely no way to guarantee that the blender used is completely contaminant free. A separate blender container, marked "nut free" should be used in this case. Even a small to trace of almond milk at a coffee shop could cause this. Was the shop owner made aware of the allergy? Not thoroughly washing a blender when the shop is busy is a common rule that's broken. It's a sad story all around.
BoredPangolin 10 months ago
Well, you're not going to educate people about food serious allergies if you take your anaphylactic daughter to order food in a place that serves all kind of allergens to her! Granted, the shop is at fault for not rincing the blender (gross) but they were not given a warning about the girl's allergy! In proper places, they have separate tools for that so they don't even have traces of the allergens. Rincing the blender like they do where I live wouldn't be enough to remove traces of nut oil. And they do it in front of you, so you know. I feel horrible for the family but at the same time, what were you thinking?! When you're anaphylactic to something as ubiquitous as nuts, dairies or eggs, you just don't even order anything in a place that even STORES those! Cross contamination is a thing, that's why packages always mention "made in a factory that also process nuts, or milk or whatever".
Sven Grammersdorf 10 months ago (edited)
Why is it gross to not wash the blender after every single use? Nobody's putting their mouth on it.
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 10 months ago
If kiddo was there by herself, she may not have thought to mention it. I was dumb as a box of rocks when I was her age. I am not, in any way shape or form, victim blaming here. It's horrible all around.
Joe Reaves 10 months ago
Allergy or not - why are you not washing the blender between orders, especially if you're not making the exact same thing in it? He 'took the time to educate himself' after the incident but if he'd been following the basic rules of hygiene and not using implements on different things without washing them it wouldn't matter what he knew or didn't know about allergies.
Nona Jaynes 10 months ago
That's what I was thinking - why TF wouldn't you wash the blender between uses??
Load More Replies... You May Like
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