A school girl has died from a severe allergic reaction after Costa Coffee allegedly gave her a hot chocolate made with cow’s milk by mistake.
Hannah Jacobs, 13 suffered from a severe dairy intolerance all her life, but it was carefully managed after being diagnosed as a toddler.
However, despite her mother cautiously ordering her a soya milk drink from the coffee chain, and informing the Costa barista of her allergies, she was reportedly given a hot chocolate made with cow’s milk by mistake.
The incident occurred on February 8, 2023, when Hannah and her mother were at a dentist appointment in Barking.
Just before 11am on the day Hannah died, her mother reportedly ordered hot chocolate drinks from the shop before heading to a dentist appointment.
However, according to a law firm representing Hannah’s family, “Hannah took a sip of her drink while in the waiting room and told her mother it was not soya milk,” she then “immediately began having an allergic reaction.”
Hannah and her mother went to a nearby pharmacy to ask for help, and a junior EpiPen was administered, but soon after paramedics arrived and Hannah was taken to Newham Hospital, medics were unable to resuscitate her.
According to reports, the Costa Coffee branch in Barking is owned and operated by a franchise partner.
An inquest into her death is due to commence this week. The inquest will hear from 11 witnesses and experts as it looks into the schoolgirl’s death.
Anaphylactic shock – What is it?
Severe allergic reactions can cause an anaphylactic shock. This is because, in some cases, their immune system releases chemicals to flood the body to fight the allergen but can lead to a dangerous condition called anaphylactic shock.
This is because chemicals are released which can cause breathing difficulties, swelling, hives and decreased blood pressure.
Symptoms of anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis symptoms usually start within minutes of coming into contact with something you’re allergic to, such as food, medicine or insect sting.
Anaphylaxis symptoms include:
- Swelling of your throat and tongue
- Difficulty breathing or breathing very fast
- Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat or a hoarse voice
- Wheezing, coughing or noisy breathing
- Feeling tired or confused
- Feeling faint, dizzy or fainting
- Skin that feels cold to the touch
- Blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue – if you have brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet
You may also have a rash that’s swollen, raised or itchy.
Anaphylaxis treatment
Anaphylaxis needs to be treated in the hospital immediately.
Treatments can include:
- Adrenaline given by an injection or drip in your vein
- Oxygen
- Fluids given by a drip in your vein
Can I make a claim for an allergic reaction?
If you have suffered an allergic reaction that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. For example, if a food manufacturer has failed to display an allergen on the label and you have become ill after consuming it, or if a restaurant has served you a meal, despite telling them you are allergic to a particular food.
The 14 regulated Allergens
In the UK, food businesses must inform you under food law if they use any of the 14 regulated allergens as ingredients in the food and drink they provide.
Food law identifies the following 14 allergens as the most potent and prevalent:
- Celery
- Cereals containing gluten (such as wheat, rye, barley and oats)
- Crustaceans (such as prawns, crabs and lobsters)
- Eggs
- Fish
- Lupin
- Milk
- Molluscs (such as mussels and oysters)
- Mustard
- Peanuts
- Sesame
- Soybeans
- Sulphur dioxide and sulphites (at a concentration of more than ten parts per million)
- Tree nuts (such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios and macadamia nuts)
Restaurants, takeaways and allergens
When you eat out or order a takeaway, the restaurant or café must provide you with allergen information. This could be allergen information on their menu or a prompt explaining how you can get this information. This may include advice that you ask a member of staff about the allergen contents of a dish you might want to order.
At Oakwood Solicitors Ltd, we offer a free consultation and can advise on whether you may be entitled to compensation if you have suffered after consuming an allergen through no fault of your own. We operate on a no-win no-fee agreement so you will not be required to pay legal fees unless your claim is successful.
Further reading
Accidents caused by faulty products – Oakwood Solicitors
A&E department claims – Oakwood Solicitors
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Paul McMullan is Head of the Employers' and Public Liability Department and joined Oakwood Solicitors in 2010. Paul represents his clients in a wide range of cases, including complex claims and catas…
