Calls for allergy reform after tragic death

A 13-year-old girl tragically died after taking just one sip of Costa Coffee hot chocolate, sparking outrage and calls for better training in the hospitality industry. Hannah Jacobs, who was allergic to dairy, fish and eggs, suffered a severe allergic reaction just hours after drinking the drink on February 8, 2023.

The incident took place at the Costa branch in Barking, east London. Despite her mother's explicit instructions to use soya milk, the drink was allegedly made with regular cow's milk, causing Hannah's fatal reaction.

During the coroner's inquest, Deputy Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe highlighted significant deficiencies in the ordering process. These deficiencies included inadequate communication between Costa staff and Hannah's mother, Abimbola Duyile, who had clearly outlined her daughter's dietary restrictions.

Hannah's immediate reaction was alarming; she developed symptoms such as nausea, swollen lips and difficulty breathing. Her mother immediately took her to a local pharmacy for emergency treatment after the sip triggered her allergy.

At the pharmacy, Hannah was given an EpiPen, but unfortunately she collapsed shortly afterwards. She was later pronounced dead in hospital. The autopsy confirmed that her death was due to a “hypersensitivity reaction” to the allergen present.

The court heard testimony highlighting failures at various stages of communication and training at Costa. Staff training on allergen awareness appeared inadequate, with some employees reportedly struggling to pass required food safety tests.

One employee admitted that she failed the allergy test twenty times before finally passing it. Another employee spoke about the challenges of language barriers among employees, sharing that she had to rely on her husband to translate on her first day.

Faton Abrashi, Costa's regional operations manager, testified to the allergy training process. He confirmed that employees are only allowed to serve potentially allergic customers after completing online training, which is only available in English, resulting in ineffective communication.

The coroner pointed to significant problems in the way training was structured within the company. For example, since February 2023, baristas were no longer required to attend online training alongside their colleagues, creating knowledge gaps at the café level.

The tragic case was made worse by the fact that neither Hannah nor her mother had their allergy medication with them on the day of the incident. This has sparked discussions about the need for stricter policies in food establishments, particularly with regard to the management of allergies.

During emotional testimony at East London Coroner's Court, Duyile expressed her anguish, noting: “Hannah had just entered puberty and was learning to be independent and accept her allergies when she was tragically taken from us.”

Abimbola said she had always been very cautious and diligent in managing Hannah's allergies. Shockingly, she discovered that her daughter had never had any serious allergic reactions before this devastating incident.

The mother criticized current allergy training protocols, stating, “Viewing allergen safety training as a mere tick-box exercise is not acceptable.” She stressed the need to raise awareness about allergies and the fact that they can lead to life-threatening reactions.

Following the outcome of the inquiry, Duyile joined calls for the appointment of a national allergy officer to improve allergy management and communication across the UK. In this role, he would be a dedicated advocate for people suffering from food allergies.

Employees like Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, who lost their daughter in similar circumstances at another grocery store, echoed Duyile's sentiments, stressing that systemic change is urgently needed to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The Ednan-Laperouses have already begun lobbying for allergy awareness and have called for discussions with government officials to establish more comprehensive allergy protocols. Their activism stems from the loss of their own daughter, Natasha, who died after consuming unlabeled sesame seeds.

A recent letter published during the general election expressed the need for greater consideration of allergies and the experiences of those affected. The call to action has gained resonance among public figures who are also calling for interventions and improvements in the food industry.

Both the food industry and healthcare professionals are encouraged to actively participate in allergy education and awareness initiatives. With the increasing statistics on food allergies, it is clear that more efforts are needed to ensure the safety of those affected.

Despite the heartbreaking death of Hannah Jacobs, her mother's courage and subsequent actions continue to demonstrate the importance of safety protocols related to food allergies. Looking ahead, the hope is that approaches to allergy management in the industry will greatly improve through educational and procedural changes.

Calls for allergy reform after tragic death

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