A cafe in London has been fined £18,000 after a 12-year-old girl died following a severe allergic reaction to a milkshake. Mia Shay St Hilaire suffered a fatal reaction after drinking a milkshake at Pop Inn Cafe, which contained traces of hazelnuts and almonds despite her tree nut allergy. The cafe proprietor, Baris Yucel, pleaded guilty to failing to follow proper food safety protocols, including cleaning equipment thoroughly.
The parents of a 12-year-old girl who died after experiencing a severe allergic reaction to a milkshake have expressed their belief that her death was entirely preventable. Mia Shay St Hilaire, a resident of Sydenham in south-east London, tragically passed away in a hospital on August 30, 2023, following consumption of a milkshake at Pop Inn Cafe in Bermondsey. Mia, who suffered from a tree nut allergy, was rushed to the hospital after suffering a severe allergic reaction.
On Monday, it was determined that the cafe's proprietor, Baris Yucel, had failed to adhere to proper protocols regarding equipment cleaning, ultimately contributing to the young girl's demise. Southwark Council stated that it is believed hazelnuts and almonds contaminated the drink prepared for Mia. CCTV footage revealed that the cafe's operator, Baris Yucel, had not cleaned the blender before making Mia's drink, and the council indicated that substances from the preparation of a previous drink were left behind, causing her reaction. In December of the previous year, Mr. Yucel, aged 47, pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates' Court to six charges, including serving food containing an allergenic ingredient that should not have been present. At a sentencing hearing on Friday at the same court, he was fined £18,000 and given a 100-hour community order. Croydon Magistrates' Court heard that Mia-Shay had visited the cafe with her aunt and sister on August 25, 2023. After being hospitalized, Mia spent five days in intensive care before her passing. Mia's parents, Adrian and Chanel, released a statement on Monday saying, '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.' 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.' Michelle Victor, a lawyer representing the family, stated that businesses disregarding food safety legislation can have 'tragic consequences.' She emphasized that children with allergies should feel safe knowing that businesses serving food and drink comply with food safety legislation designed to protect them. However, she lamented that this often doesn't happen, leading to tragic consequences like in this case. She added that they continue to support Mia's family and that while no outcome can compensate for their loss, this criminal prosecution is a crucial step in their pursuit of justice for all those suffering from food allergies. Southwark councillor Natasha Ennin called the incident a 'tragedy,' stating that it could have been avoided if the cafe operator had followed basic food safety rules. She assured that council officers would continue working with local businesses to ensure these rules are followed by all food outlets in Southwark. An enforcement officer from the council has conducted several visits to the cafe to verify that procedures preventing similar incidents are in place. A lawyer representing Mr. Yucel stated that the cafe operator thinks of Mia and her family every day. The lawyer's statement highlighted that prior to sentencing, District Judge Dean acknowledged Mr. Yucel's previous good character and his 22 years in the food business without any reported incidents. He emphasized that Pop Inn Cafe had a good food safety record and that the Judge accepted Mr. Yucel's genuine remorse. The lawyer added that Mr. Yucel took immediate steps to improve his knowledge in September and October 2023 and pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. Regrettably, the cafe was not informed by the child's guardian about the child's tree nut allergy, and the Judge stated that, aside from the lack of signage regarding notifying the establishment of any food allergies/intolerances, this would not have prevented the tragic consequences. The lawyer concluded by saying that Mr. Yucel has had to live with the consequences of what happened and that not a day goes by when he doesn't think about the child and her family. Pop Inn Cafe was awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 in October 2023, and it remains at this level after a full inspection by Southwark Council in September 2024
Allergy Cafe Death Fine Food Safety Milkshake Tree Nuts
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