London cafe owner convicted after 12-year-old dies from allergic reaction

An inquest has concluded that 12-year-old Mia Shay St Hilaire died from rapidly progressing anaphylaxis after consuming a Twix milkshake contaminated with hazelnut residue at the Pop Inn Cafe in London.

CCTV footage revealed that the cafe owner, Baris Yucel, failed to wash the blender after using it to prepare a Kinder Bueno milkshake, which contains hazelnuts. The cross-contamination occurred when the unwashed equipment was used for St Hilaire’s order. Following the incident in August 2023, Yucel pleaded guilty to six food safety violations, including failing to manage allergen contamination and not providing visible allergen information. He was fined £18,000, ordered to perform 100 hours of community service, and no longer operates the cafe.

St Hilaire’s parents have called for systemic changes to food safety regulations, specifically requesting a dedicated, visible rating system for allergy management to complement existing food hygiene ratings.