Calls for allergy management ratings after girl's death

The family of a 12 year old who died after being given a contaminated milkshake in south London has called for allergy management framework to be introduced to protect people with allergies

Mia Shay St Hilaire suffered a severe allergic reaction after drinking a Twix milkshake at the Pop Inn Cafe, Southwark Park Road, London, while visiting with her aunt and sister in August 2023.

The drink she consumed contained hazelnut from a previous milkshake made in the same blender.

CCTV evidence showed that cafe operator Baris Yucel had not cleaned the blender before preparing Mia’s milkshake.

Assistant coroner, Briony Ballard, listened to evidence at London Inner South Coroner’s Court before publishing a narrative conclusion on Mia’s death.

She said Mia had consumed some of a Twix milkshake “which had been cross-contaminated with hazelnut residue from a Kinder Bueno milkshake previously prepared in the same unwashed blender.

“She developed rapidly progressing anaphylaxis and later collapsed at her aunt’s home.”

Despite extensive emergency treatment and being transferred to intensive care at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Mia died, the verdict said.

Following the conclusion of the inquest into the death of Mia Shay St Hilaire, aged 12, her parents Adrian St Hilaire and Chanel Spence issued the following statement:

“We would like to thank the coroner for her careful and thorough investigation into the death of our beautiful daughter, Mia. We are grateful for the time and attention given to understanding what happened and for ensuring that Mia's voice has been heard.

“We are convinced that significant changes are needed to protect people living with food allergies. Consumers rely on food hygiene ratings when deciding where it is safe to eat, but they do not tell us anything about the way a food business runs allergy management systems.

“There should be a separate, clearly displayed rating dedicated to allergy management, like the food hygiene rating. This would mean that people with allergies could make informed choices about where they eat.

“For families living with food allergies, eating out should not mean they are at risk. We hope that lessons will be learned from Mia's death and that changes will be made to prevent other families enduring the devastation that we now have to live with.

“No family should ever have to lose a child in these circumstances. If the local authority had ensured that the cafe's allergy management responsibilities had been properly understood, and put into practice, we believe Mia would still be alive today.

“We want to make sure that change is Mia's legacy so that we can help to save lives in the future. Mia was deeply loved and she will never be forgotten.

“Finally we would like to thank our legal team namely Darragh Coffey and Michelle Victor, Angela Bruno and the team at Leigh Day for their support during this incredibly difficult time.”

Mia's parents are represented by the food safety team led by Michelle Victor, partner at law firm Leigh Day.

Michelle Victor said:

“Today marks the conclusion of an incredibly difficult and painful process for Mia's family who have shown extraordinary strength, dignity and determination in seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding her death.

“The evidence has highlighted serious concerns about the way food allergies are understood, managed and monitored within the food service industry.

“Mia's death demonstrates the potentially catastrophic consequences that can arise when allergy management systems are not robustly implemented, monitored and enforced. The family therefore call upon the Food Standards Agency and relevant authorities to review the current framework governing food allergy safety and consider meaningful reforms.

“The family hope that Mia's legacy will be one of positive change: a legacy that improves allergy safety, protects others from harm and helps ensure that no other family has to endure the heartbreak they have experienced.”

Southwark Council brought a case against the cafe. It said in January 2025 that Mr Yucel had pleaded guilty to all six offences in the case.

These included not making allergen advice available or visible to consumers, failing to manage allergen contamination during the food production process, and serving food that contained an allergenic ingredient that was not supposed to be present.

Mr Yucel was fined £18,000 and handed a 100-hour community order.

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