A dancer in her twenties tragically died from a fatal allergic reaction to peanuts after eating cookies that had been incorrectly labeled. 25-year-old Órla Baxendale, a professional dancer from East Lancashire, UK, moved to New York, USA, to train as a scholarship student at the Ailey School in 2018.
Her dancer dreams were cut short on January 11, after she went into anaphylactic shock from a severe allergic reaction to a Vanilla Florentine cookie, which she had bought from the popular supermarket Stew Leonard’s.
- Órla Baxendale died from an allergic reaction to mislabeled cookies.
- The cookies from Stew Leonard's contained undisclosed peanuts.
- Lawyers claim negligence led to the preventable tragedy.
- A recall for the Vanilla Florentine Cookies was issued after the incident.
Attorney Marijo Adimey, representing Órla’s family, said in a statement on Wednesday (January 24): “Órla’s passing stemmed from an unfortunate incident involving the consumption of a cookie manufactured by Cookies United and sold by Stew Leonard’s, which contained undisclosed peanuts.”
25-year-old Órla Baxendale tragically died from a fatal allergic reaction to peanuts after eating cookies that had been incorrectly labeled
Image credits: orla_baxendale
The statement further stated: “This tragic oversight has led to the recall of the Vanilla Florentine Cookies from Stew Leonard’s stores in Danbury and Newington, CT, for the period of November 6 – December 31, 2023.”
According to the law firm, a preliminary investigation revealed that Órla’s death occurred due to the gross negligence and reckless conduct of the manufacturer and/or sellers who failed to properly identify the contents of the cookie on the packaging.
Moreover, it stated that the failure of proper disclosure led to the devastating death, which could’ve been preventable.
Órla went into anaphylactic shock after eating a Vanilla Florentine cookie, which she had bought from the popular supermarket Stew Leonard’s
Image credits: NBC News
“Her sudden loss is not only a personal tragedy for her family and friends but also a significant loss to the artistic community,” the law firm wrote.
According to News 12, Órla had eaten the treat at a social gathering in Connecticut.
It further stated: “We stand with Órla’s family in this difficult time and extend our deepest condolences.
“They have been overwhelmed and comforted by the outpouring of love, support, and tributes from around the world.
“Órla’s vibrant spirit and her relentless pursuit of excellence in her art have left an indelible mark on all who knew her.”
The cookies were manufactured by Cookies United and sold by Stew Leonard’s but contained undisclosed peanuts
Image credits: Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Stew Leonard’s has since claimed that the Long Island bakery that supplied the cookies did not inform them of a change of ingredients in the vanilla Florentine Cookies.
“I’m here with our family, and I mean we’re just all devastated, very sad,” CEO Stew Leonard Jr. said in the released video, according to News 12. He added: “I have four daughters, [and] one of them is in her 20s. I can imagine how that family feels right now.”
In an official statement, the CEO wrote: “This has never happened at Stew Leonard’s before.
“We have very strict food safety practices and one of them is having all proper ingredients listed on our labels.
“Unfortunately, we are buying these cookies from a company who never told us they changed the ingredients.
“We sold them in good faith, and one customer was affected. We were devastated to learn this news, and our family is sending our deepest condolences.”
Órla was a professional dancer from East Lancashire, UK, and had moved to New York, USA, to train as a scholarship student at the Ailey School in 2018
Image credits: orla_baxendale
Nevertheless, the wholesaler, Cookies United, claimed it did share the change in ingredients with the regional supermarket chain months before Órla’s death.
The company said in a statement: “It has come to the attention of Cookies United that a customer of Stew Leonard’s has tragically died as a result of eating cookies containing peanuts.
“Our hearts and condolences are first with the family of this Stew Leonard’s customer.
“Stew Leonard’s claimed in an earlier press release that ‘The cookies contain peanuts, which was an ingredient not disclosed to Stew Leonard’s by the manufacturer.'”
“Unfortunately, considering the tragedy of these circumstances, we need to point out that Stew Leonard’s was notified by Cookies United in July of 2023 that this product now contains peanuts, and all products shipped to them have been labeled accordingly.
“I have four daughters, [and] one of them is in her 20s. I can imagine how that family feels right now,” CEO Stew Leonard Jr. said
Image credits: NBC News
“This product is sold under the Stew Leonard’s brand and repackaged at their facilities.
“The incorrect label was created by and applied to their product by Stew Leonard’s.
“In the 24 hours since Cookies United learned of this tragedy, we have been cooperating with the New York State Department of Agriculture and have been informed we are in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations relating to this product.
“Our deepest sympathies to the family of this Stew Leonard’s customer.”
Stew Leonard’s said the product was only sold at the Danbury and Newington locations, The New York Post reported. The supermarket has since reportedly issued a recall for the seasonal product on Tuesday (January 23).
A separate statement from the supermarket read: “Stew Leonard’s, in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, is recalling Vanilla and Chocolate Florentine Cookies that were sold only at Stew Leonard’s in Danbury and Newington, Conn. from November 6 – December 31, 2023.
“The cookies contain undeclared peanuts and eggs. People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts or eggs run the risk of [a] serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.
“One death has been reported that may be associated with the mislabeled product.”
You can read Cookies United’s official statement below:
Stew Leonard’s added that it is working with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) and the supplier to “determine the cause of the labeling error.”
The DCP’s Standards and Product Safety Division shared that it is investigating the deadly mishap with officials in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, the Food and Drug Administration, and Stew Leonard’s, as per The Post.
DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli said in a statement on Tuesday: “This is a heartbreaking tragedy that should never have happened,” adding that they will get to the bottom of how this “error happened and prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future.”
Punita Ponda, Northwell Health’s associate division chief for allergy and immunology, told News 12: “It’s completely tragic and should not be occurring. From the manufacturer’s point of view, this is something that if care was taken to enough levels to avoid this from being an exposure for the person, that’s the first level of prevention.”
Cookies United claimed it did share the change in ingredients with the regional supermarket chain months before Órla’s death
Image credits: FOX 5 New York
Punita highlighted the importance of adequately checking labels for those with known food allergies. She said: “It’s like when you go out and you want to make sure you have your wallet and ID with you.
“It’s the same thing. If you’re going on and could be exposed to food in any situation, you should bring your EpiPen.”
The Ailey School revealed that Órla started Irish dance at a very early age, developing a love for other dance styles, and started training at Northern Ballet Academy, Leeds, UK, and Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham, UK.
Upon moving to New York, the late dancer worked with various choreographers, including Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘A,’ choreographed by Brice Mousset for The Ailey School January Explosion concert.
She performed in New York Fashion Week and was a cast member of English With An Accent, a dance-theater production that was performed at New York’s Lincoln Center.
Órla was part of an entertainment group and worked on multiple freelance projects throughout the New York area.
“That’s so heartbreaking,” a reader sympathized
I work in the food world, and the nut world, and this is absolutely correct. If you or your child have life-threatening allergies; NEVER believe a label. Don't do it. You can make the same cookies or whatever at home; with total control- and enjoy the results. Food in a restaurant? 10 people, at least, are between your plate and the harvested raw food- just one of them has to be careless, just once- and the outcome is - exactly what we have here. I didn't know this young woman; but my heart is breaking for her- and all her loved ones.
Load More Replies...
My degree is in food science and I work in a food plant. We are extremely careful with allergens. Just handling anything with nuts means you change your gloves, lab jacket and rewash up. Food allergies are very serious.
I know plenty of folk in food science, and you have my utmost respect. That's a hard job- and one with few rewards and little understanding. A hard problem you face today is - you're been so broadly successful at keeping food safe that now people take it all for granted- and start to ignore both the hazards and the rules. It's just plain difficult.
Load More Replies...
I can’t imagine why the manufacturer added peanuts to something they’ve been making regularly without them. Especially since peanuts are a well known allergen with dangerous consequences. If someone had bought them regularly, they probably wouldn’t have even checked the label- they would easily assume they were exactly the same as before.
I imagine it has something to do with a cost savings or some such for the bottom line.
Load More Replies...
Hypothesis #1: Someone in the custody chain- just "didn't bother" to update the ingredients list, because it would have caused them some inconvenience, like made them late for a movie. "This stuff is all just government burden; nobody ever dies from a few peanuts!" Totally ignorant; and totally arrogant- and totally TYPICAL of many young people today, including the one who just couldn't be bothered to actually tighten the nuts on the Alaska airliner. "This c**p doesn't matter!" This complete lack of respect for prior workers- is killing us; and will get worse.
Hypothesis are good but, my dude, it's just a Hypothesis, why are you getting all worked up over it? There are many reasons why this could happen.
Load More Replies... I was on a plane yesterday, they handed out a choice of snack - nuts, popcorn or cookies. About 15 minutes (after most people had eaten the snack), there was an announcement about a passenger with a severe allergic reaction to airborne nut fumes so they'd have to remove all nuts as he could have a reaction so could people hand theirs in to the stewardesses. So this guy got on a plane knowing about his allergy, said nothing even when asked if he wanted nuts and only when he saw someone eating them did he explain his allergy. I think we have a potential Darwin Award candidate sitting up front.
Hate me if you will, but I feel like if your allergy is so serious that even someone sitting a few seats away eating peanuts could kill you, you shouldn't be on a plane. There is just too much risk. Hell I don't know how you'd ever manage to survive in any crowded area.
Load More Replies...
Never trust labels. Nuts are traditionally the main ingredient in a florentine. Unless a product like this that is based on your allergen specifically says DOES NOT CONTAIN NUTS, you should not risk it.
I almost died because someone read a label that did not say anything about peanuts. It was manufactured in a factory where peanuts were handled though. I turned purple and the person did not even think about using the epi-pen. I guess I will live in even greater fear now.
Load More Replies... Not blaming the woman (the mislabeling shouldn't happen) but when she has such a severe allergy why did she not have an epipen with her at all times? Could she not get to it, was it broken?
I feel for her, and I hope she rests in peace because this could have easily been prevented, but.. florentines always contain nuts, I thought.
I can't help but notice the obvious nuts in those cookies. I have to ask if she even looked at the cookie before she bit into it.
Unfortunately with this we-informed-them, they-didn't-tell-us sitation, this could drag on for the family. Hopefully, whatever the cause that the labelling was not correctly updated when the recipe changed, there will be lessons learnt from this which will prevent the same re-occurring. Really, if a company updates a recipe to ADD an allergen, they need to ensure that the information is clearly marked (new recipe/allergen update warning for customers) or if they know a company repackages the supplier could do with getting the receiving company to sign an acknowledgement, not simply assume the new labelling/email/despatch note has been read and acted on.
Awful, and disgusting that the companies involved are more focused on who's going to get sued than taking responsibility for their actions that led to her death. Personally if I or my child had a peanut allergy, I would never buy manufactured food as even if the retailer does their besr, they can't police the whole supply chain. And always carry at least two epipens.
From what I read, the manufacturer did inform the seller, but the seller neglected to change the label.
"inform" could be they changed their label and sent it but did not tell them it had changed.
Load More Replies...
There are a bunch of cases of murderers, scum deliberately lying about the contents of food and knowingly giving it to people after claiming it "didn't contain the allergen". It's not a joke or a "preference", it's literally life and death. James Atkinson (link below) died of a peanut allergy, the restauranteur deliberately lying and claiming the food did not contain peanuts. In Washington State, USA, Michael Saffioti was murdered by the jail in 2012; they KNOWINGLY gave him bread containing peanut butter, telling him it didn't. And a woman in England died in December after being given food tainted with sesame oil which she was never informed about. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-67984972
It is not true that the restaurateur deliberately lied. James Atkinson didn't mark the allergy form and didn't tell them he had an allergy. He ordered a dish that often contains peanut, using a third party app that only listed the main ingredients and didn't have a full ingredients list. At no point did he tell anyone that he had a severe allergy, so even if that specific dish wouldn't have peanuts, the restaurant wouldn't have known they had to keep allergy protocols. So he could have still died from cross contamination. As tragic as his dead was, it was his own fault. Had he disclosed his allergy, the restaurant would have refused his order, since they couldn't guarantee that any dish was free of cross contamination. They have done so before. No one nefariously poisoned him. If you have a severe allergy that could kill you, you have to disclose that to the restaurant. Allergy protocols are far to disruptive to do them for every order. And sometimes it's completely impossible.
Load More Replies... All my sympathy but why do people say 'passed'? The word is died. Euphemisms serve no purpose.
It's been over 600 years, you've had time to come to terms with it ;p That said, we use different euphemisms for different effects. Passed tends to be a softer term, describing a death or process that should elicit sadness such as a kid lost to leukemia or Betty White in her sleep. Died is cold & clinical so good for facts or narrative that isn't intended to elicit emotion at the death. This story is about preventable tragedy so passed fits better.
Load More Replies...
I work in the food world, and the nut world, and this is absolutely correct. If you or your child have life-threatening allergies; NEVER believe a label. Don't do it. You can make the same cookies or whatever at home; with total control- and enjoy the results. Food in a restaurant? 10 people, at least, are between your plate and the harvested raw food- just one of them has to be careless, just once- and the outcome is - exactly what we have here. I didn't know this young woman; but my heart is breaking for her- and all her loved ones.
Load More Replies... My degree is in food science and I work in a food plant. We are extremely careful with allergens. Just handling anything with nuts means you change your gloves, lab jacket and rewash up. Food allergies are very serious.
I know plenty of folk in food science, and you have my utmost respect. That's a hard job- and one with few rewards and little understanding. A hard problem you face today is - you're been so broadly successful at keeping food safe that now people take it all for granted- and start to ignore both the hazards and the rules. It's just plain difficult.
Load More Replies... I can’t imagine why the manufacturer added peanuts to something they’ve been making regularly without them. Especially since peanuts are a well known allergen with dangerous consequences. If someone had bought them regularly, they probably wouldn’t have even checked the label- they would easily assume they were exactly the same as before.
I imagine it has something to do with a cost savings or some such for the bottom line.
Load More Replies... Hypothesis #1: Someone in the custody chain- just "didn't bother" to update the ingredients list, because it would have caused them some inconvenience, like made them late for a movie. "This stuff is all just government burden; nobody ever dies from a few peanuts!" Totally ignorant; and totally arrogant- and totally TYPICAL of many young people today, including the one who just couldn't be bothered to actually tighten the nuts on the Alaska airliner. "This c**p doesn't matter!" This complete lack of respect for prior workers- is killing us; and will get worse.
Hypothesis are good but, my dude, it's just a Hypothesis, why are you getting all worked up over it? There are many reasons why this could happen.
Load More Replies... I was on a plane yesterday, they handed out a choice of snack - nuts, popcorn or cookies. About 15 minutes (after most people had eaten the snack), there was an announcement about a passenger with a severe allergic reaction to airborne nut fumes so they'd have to remove all nuts as he could have a reaction so could people hand theirs in to the stewardesses. So this guy got on a plane knowing about his allergy, said nothing even when asked if he wanted nuts and only when he saw someone eating them did he explain his allergy. I think we have a potential Darwin Award candidate sitting up front.
Hate me if you will, but I feel like if your allergy is so serious that even someone sitting a few seats away eating peanuts could kill you, you shouldn't be on a plane. There is just too much risk. Hell I don't know how you'd ever manage to survive in any crowded area.
Load More Replies... Never trust labels. Nuts are traditionally the main ingredient in a florentine. Unless a product like this that is based on your allergen specifically says DOES NOT CONTAIN NUTS, you should not risk it.
I almost died because someone read a label that did not say anything about peanuts. It was manufactured in a factory where peanuts were handled though. I turned purple and the person did not even think about using the epi-pen. I guess I will live in even greater fear now.
Load More Replies... Not blaming the woman (the mislabeling shouldn't happen) but when she has such a severe allergy why did she not have an epipen with her at all times? Could she not get to it, was it broken?
I feel for her, and I hope she rests in peace because this could have easily been prevented, but.. florentines always contain nuts, I thought.
I can't help but notice the obvious nuts in those cookies. I have to ask if she even looked at the cookie before she bit into it.
Unfortunately with this we-informed-them, they-didn't-tell-us sitation, this could drag on for the family. Hopefully, whatever the cause that the labelling was not correctly updated when the recipe changed, there will be lessons learnt from this which will prevent the same re-occurring. Really, if a company updates a recipe to ADD an allergen, they need to ensure that the information is clearly marked (new recipe/allergen update warning for customers) or if they know a company repackages the supplier could do with getting the receiving company to sign an acknowledgement, not simply assume the new labelling/email/despatch note has been read and acted on.
Awful, and disgusting that the companies involved are more focused on who's going to get sued than taking responsibility for their actions that led to her death. Personally if I or my child had a peanut allergy, I would never buy manufactured food as even if the retailer does their besr, they can't police the whole supply chain. And always carry at least two epipens.
From what I read, the manufacturer did inform the seller, but the seller neglected to change the label.
"inform" could be they changed their label and sent it but did not tell them it had changed.
Load More Replies... There are a bunch of cases of murderers, scum deliberately lying about the contents of food and knowingly giving it to people after claiming it "didn't contain the allergen". It's not a joke or a "preference", it's literally life and death. James Atkinson (link below) died of a peanut allergy, the restauranteur deliberately lying and claiming the food did not contain peanuts. In Washington State, USA, Michael Saffioti was murdered by the jail in 2012; they KNOWINGLY gave him bread containing peanut butter, telling him it didn't. And a woman in England died in December after being given food tainted with sesame oil which she was never informed about. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-67984972
It is not true that the restaurateur deliberately lied. James Atkinson didn't mark the allergy form and didn't tell them he had an allergy. He ordered a dish that often contains peanut, using a third party app that only listed the main ingredients and didn't have a full ingredients list. At no point did he tell anyone that he had a severe allergy, so even if that specific dish wouldn't have peanuts, the restaurant wouldn't have known they had to keep allergy protocols. So he could have still died from cross contamination. As tragic as his dead was, it was his own fault. Had he disclosed his allergy, the restaurant would have refused his order, since they couldn't guarantee that any dish was free of cross contamination. They have done so before. No one nefariously poisoned him. If you have a severe allergy that could kill you, you have to disclose that to the restaurant. Allergy protocols are far to disruptive to do them for every order. And sometimes it's completely impossible.
Load More Replies... All my sympathy but why do people say 'passed'? The word is died. Euphemisms serve no purpose.
It's been over 600 years, you've had time to come to terms with it ;p That said, we use different euphemisms for different effects. Passed tends to be a softer term, describing a death or process that should elicit sadness such as a kid lost to leukemia or Betty White in her sleep. Died is cold & clinical so good for facts or narrative that isn't intended to elicit emotion at the death. This story is about preventable tragedy so passed fits better.
Load More Replies...
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