British Woman with Severe Allergy Dies After Eating Mislabelled Cookie from US Store
Órla Baxendale died from anaphylactic shock after eating a cookie which contained peanuts.
Dancer Órla Baxendale ate a cookie from Stew Leonard's, a grocery store chain in the north-eastern US, which led to a severe allergic reaction.
Despite the administration of an EpiPen, her condition could not be reversed. and she died on 11th January.
Following this incident, the grocery store, in collaboration with the US Food and Drug Administration, has initiated a recall of the batch of Vanilla Florentine Cookies. Stew Leonard's disclosed in a video post concerning Ms. Baxendale's tragic demise that approximately 500 packages of the cookies were sold. The store has urged customers to return the cookies to their respective stores.
According to her family's account to the BBC, Ms. Baxendale consumed the cookies while in Connecticut, as she was preparing to perform the lead role in a dance company's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.
"A Heartbreaking Tragedy".
Stew Leonard's has recalled the Vanilla and Chocolate Florentine Cookies, saying "the cookies contain undeclared peanuts and eggs" and that those with an allergy to either food "run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction".
The cookies had been available in two Connecticut towns from 6 November 2023 and they remained on shelves until the end of the year.
Bryan Cafferelli, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner called Ms Baxendale's death "a heartbreaking tragedy".
He said his state agency was working with local and federal officials as well as other states to "prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future".
Órla Baxendale
Originally from East Lancashire, Baxendale moved to New York City in 2018 to pursue a dancing career.
She was "an exquisite ballet, contemporary, and Irish step dancer" who was the "embodiment of enthusiasm, strength, and beauty", her online obituary says.
Ms Baxendale's family told the BBC that she had been planning to go on a global tour with her dance company, MOMIX.
"The truth is Órla got more out of life in 25 years than most do in a lifetime, and she will now live on in all our hearts forever," her family added.
Stew Leonard's
Stew Leonard Jr, Stew Leonard's president and CEO alleged that the manufacturer changed the ingredients and the company's chief safety officer had not been notified of the change.
The company who made the cookies, Cookies United, based in Long Island has said that they notified Stew Leonard's in July 2023 of the recipe change.
The company have stated that all products shipped to them were labelled correctly, adding that the product "is sold under the Stew Leonard's brand and repackaged at their facilities" with the incorrect label.
Attorneys representing Ms Baxendale's family have said that a "preliminary investigation has revealed that Órla's death occurred due to the gross negligence and reckless conduct of the manufacturer and/or sellers".
At this time, however, there is no lawsuit against either party.