After allegedly being exposed to a deadly food allergy in a cafe, a 12-year-old girl passed away suddenly, according to her relatives. After consuming a milkshake at the Pop Inn Cafe in London, Mia Shay St. Hilaire, who suffered from a severe tree nut allergy, passed away on August 30, 2023.
According to the cafe’s surveillance footage, 47-year-old Baris Yucel is seen making the drink in a soiled container between uses. Experts think cross-contamination caused Mia’s deadly reaction.
Yucel entered a guilty plea to six offenses in court, including selling food that included an allergy that shouldn’t have been there, according to Your Local Guardian. After that, the court ordered him to perform 100 hours of community service and pay a fine of $18,000, or around $22,000 USD.
Your Local Guardian was able to acquire a statement from the girl’s parents, Adrian and Chanel St. Hilaire, via their lawyer: “We think of Mia every day, and knowing her death could have been prevented so easily only adds to how heartbroken we are as a family.”
We hope that this conviction and penalties will serve as a stark reminder to food and beverage establishments nationwide of the dire repercussions of not taking food safety seriously.
Regretfully, Yucel claimed ignorance about Mia’s condition and seemed to be ignorant of the dangers of food allergies. According to reports, the court thought he was sincerely apologetic.
Reports state that he pled guilty at the first chance and promptly took action to educate himself in September and October of 2023.
Unfortunately, the child’s guardian failed to inform the cafe that the child had a tree nut allergy. The judge said that, aside from the absence of signage alerting the establishment to any food allergies or intolerances, this would not have stopped the tragic outcomes that transpired, lawyer Isin Vahib wrote in a statement to the Guardian Local.
Mr. Yucel has had to deal with the fallout from what transpired, and he never goes a day without thinking about the youngster and her family.
In an Instagram post, the UK-based food allergy organization Natasha Allergy Research Foundation stated that it wanted justice for Mia.
It states, in part, that although we applaud the fine and community order given to the café operator, we feel they do not fairly represent the seriousness of Mia’s circumstances. How many more deaths or hospitalizations must occur before all food operators understand that these regulations are essential to ensuring the safety of their patrons and cannot be ignored?
One commenter wrote: “Again, ignorance has taken a beautiful girl with her entire life ahead of her!” Peace be with you, little girl. There is much more to be done!
“This breaks my heart,” said another in agreement. It is heartbreaking when people pass away due to inadequate education and safety precautions around food allergies.
I pray for everyone who has been touched by her loss, and my thoughts and prayers are with her family. In order to upload the standard, we MUST improve and modify our policies.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.