Parents Demand Stricter Food Safety Laws After 12-Year-Old Mia-Shay St Hilaire Dies From Contaminated Milkshake
The parents of 12-year-old Mia-Shay St Hilaire are advocating for nationwide food safety and allergy management reforms after their daughter died from a fatal allergic reaction in London. The tragic incident occurred after a café operator served a milkshake prepared in an unwashed blender containing hazelnut residue.
Parents of a 12-year-old London girl who died after suffering an allergic reaction to a contaminated milkshake are pushing for stricter food safety rules and dedicated allergen labeling in dining establishments. Mia-Shay St Hilaire, a resident of Sydenham, suffered fatal anaphylaxis after consuming a drink prepared in an unwashed blender at Pop Inn Café in Bermondsey, London, according to reporting by MadameNoire.
The tragic incident took place in August 2023 when Mia-Shay visited the café alongside her aunt and sister. According to inquest findings presented at Inner South London Coroner’s Court, Assistant Coroner Briony Ballard determined that the drink was cross-contaminated with hazelnut residue left behind from a previously prepared Kinder Bueno milkshake. Video surveillance captured café operator Baris Yucel using the equipment without washing it between orders, as noted in reports from local outlets including the BBC, The Metro, and The Independent.
Mia-Shay, who had a documented hazelnut allergy, experienced a severe and rapidly progressing allergic response shortly after consuming the beverage. She later collapsed at her aunt’s home and was rushed to the intensive care unit at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Medical staff were ultimately unable to save her life.
Following an investigation conducted by Southwark Council’s food safety division, officials identified multiple legal violations and initiated prosecution against the business owner. In January 2025, Yucel pleaded guilty at Croydon Magistrates’ Court to six food safety offenses, according to a press release from the local council. The infractions included failing to display or provide accessible allergen information, neglecting to prevent cross-contamination during preparation, and serving food containing unauthorized allergenic ingredients.
Court records show that District Judge Dean sentenced the 47-year-old proprietor to pay an £18,000 fine and complete 100 hours of community service. Legal representation for Yucel stated to Southwark News that the business owner had maintained a clean regulatory record over 22 years in the food industry, expressed sincere remorse, and completed remedial training shortly after the incident occurred.
Now, Mia-Shay’s parents, Adrian St Hilaire and Chanel Spence, are demanding systemic reforms across the restaurant sector. In a statement provided to the BBC, the grieving parents emphasized that standard food hygiene scores fail to inform the public about a venue’s specific allergen controls. They are calling for mandatory, separate allergy management ratings displayed prominently at all food outlets to help families living with severe allergies make informed decisions.
Local leadership has also reflected on the necessity of regulatory compliance. Cllr Natasha Ennin, Southwark Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Neighbourhoods, expressed condolences to the family and stated that the tragedy could have been avoided if basic safety standards had been maintained. Council officers confirmed that new safety measures were instituted at the café alongside ongoing follow-up inspections.