A girl’s death was caused by a Costa drink, according to the coroner.
The coroner ruled that a girl’s death was caused by a “failure to follow the processes in place to discuss allergies” when she consumed Costa Coffee’s cows’ milk-based hot chocolate, which aggravated her severe dairy allergy.
On February 8, 2023, 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs, described as “vivacious, caring and affectionate,” died hours after drinking her mother’s gift.
Assistant coroner Dr. Shirley Radcliffe found, however, a “failure of communication” between coffee shop personnel and Hannah’s mother, Abimbola Duyile. Furthermore, Ms. Duyile complained that the food sector treated allergy like a “tick box” after her daughter was dead.
With sadness, Ms. Duyile wrote, “Hannah only had thirteen years on this earth when she should have , more.”Hanna loved life. She had a strong moral compaMs Duyile added: “Having heard all the evidence over the last week it is clear to me that although the food service industry and medical professionals are required to have allergy training. This training is really not taken seriously enough and was an enthusiastic, outgoing, compassionate, affectionate, and lively child.
“The signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis need to be better understood by these sectors and the general public.
At the time of Hannah’s death, prospective Costa staff had to take home-accessible online classes and an allergy exam.
Hannah died from a hypersensitive anaphylactic reaction to an allergen in her hot chocolate, according to the postmortem.
According to Dr Radcliffe: “The root cause of this death is a failure to follow the processes in place to discuss allergies combined with a failure of communication between the mother and the barista.”
After a sesame-containing Pret a Manger baguette killed their 15-year-old daughter, her parents sought “urgent” government action.
Therefore “We need urgent government action to educate schools, businesses, and society that food allergies are serious, not lifestyle choices. The co-founders of “The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation,” a food allergy charity, Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, claimed.
A spokeswoman for Costa Coffee stated: “Understanding how this awful situation occurred is in the interest of everyone – our franchise partners, our customers, our team members, and the communities of which we are a part.”We will give the coroner’s remarks and whatever report she issues serious consideration after listening to all of her statements this week.
