An inquest is set to start next week to investigate the death of a teenage girl who died after a suspected allergic reaction to a hot chocolate purchased from Costa Coffee, as reported by The Guardian.
Hannah Jacobs, a thirteen-year-old from Barking, East London, collapsed and passed away on February 8 of the previous year. The suspected cause was anaphylaxis triggered by the hot chocolate from Costa Coffee. Hannah and her mother had visited the coffee shop en route to a dentist appointment. Despite her mother informing the barista of Hannah’s dairy intolerance and requesting soy milk, the drink contained regular milk.
Hannah had a history of multiple food allergies, including dairy, eggs, fish, and wheat. Upon tasting the hot chocolate, she realized it contained the wrong milk and experienced severe distress. Her mother hurried to a pharmacy, where an EpiPen was administered to mitigate the allergic reaction. Despite swift intervention by emergency services and hospital transport, Hannah could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 1 pm.
This incident echoes the case of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died in 2016 from an allergic reaction to sesame seeds in a Pret a Manger baguette. Natasha’s death prompted the UK government to enact Natasha’s Law in 2021, requiring firms to label allergens in pre-packaged foods made on their premises. According to LBC news, food allergies cause around 10 deaths annually in Britain, with about 5,000 hospitalizations for severe reactions. Approximately 2.4 million people in the UK live with food allergies.
