Girl, 12, dies after drinking milkshake from unwashed blender at London cafe
Girl, 12, dies after drinking milkshake from unwashed blender at London cafe
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A 12-year-old girl died after a London cafe made her a milkshake in an unwashed blender contaminated with nuts. Mia-Shay St Hilaire suffered a fatal allergic reaction to tree nuts left behind in the appliance at the Pop Inn Cafe in Bermondsey, south east London, in August 2023.
![[Mia Shay St Hilaire, 12. The 'heartbroken' family of a 12-year-old girl with severe nut allergies who died after drinking a milkshake say her death should have been avoided. Mia Shay St Hilaire - who was allergic to tree nuts - visited the Pop Inn Cafe in Bermondsey, southeast London, in the summer of 2023 with family. The schoolgirl ordered a milkshake but suffered a severe allergic reaction which led to her death ... CCTV evidence showed the cafe?s operator, Mr Baris Yucel, hadn't properly cleaned a blender used to make Mia's milkshake.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237541122-431d-e1738060666790.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
She was visiting the cafe with her aunt and sister when she ordered the drink. But she died five days after traces of hazelnuts and almonds were found in the blender after being left behind from a previous drink. Cafe owner Baris Yucel was found on CCTV to have not properly cleaned the blender.
![[CaptionMia Shay St Hilaire, 12. The 'heartbroken' family of a 12-year-old girl with severe nut allergies who died after drinking a milkshake say her death should have been avoided. Mia Shay St Hilaire - who was allergic to tree nuts - visited the Pop Inn Cafe in Bermondsey, southeast London, in the summer of 2023 with family. The schoolgirl ordered a milkshake but suffered a severe allergic reaction which led to her death ... CCTV evidence showed the cafe?s operator, Mr Baris Yucel, hadn't properly cleaned a blender used to make Mia's milkshak]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237654707-d7db-e1738060718318.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
He was fined £18,000 and given a 100-hour community order, but the schoolgirl’s parents, Adrian and Chanel, said their daughter’s death could have been easily prevented. They said: ‘We think of Mia-Shay every day and knowing her death could potentially have been prevented so simply, only adds to how heartbroken we are as a family.
‘We hope this conviction and fine sends a loud message to businesses serving food and drinks across the country, of the devastating consequences of failing to take food safety seriously.’. Southwark Council also found Mia-Shay’s death was avoidable, and enforcement officers regularly visit the cafe to ensure it follows allergen procedures.
Michelle Victor, who represented Mia-Shay’s family, said children with allergies should feel comfortable ordering food and drink. She said: ‘We are continuing to support Mia-Shay’s family and, while no outcome will ever make up for the loss they have suffered, this criminal prosecution is an important part of their fight to achieve justice for all those suffering with food allergies.
