​A Tragic Miscommunication Over a Beverage Order May Have Led to the Death of a Young Girl with Severe Allergies

A tragic incident involving a 13-year-old girl with a severe dairy allergy has brought to light the potential dangers of miscommunication in food service. Hannah Jacobs, a teenager with long-standing allergies to dairy, fish, and eggs, died just hours after consuming a hot chocolate from a Costa Coffee outlet in Barking, East London. The inquest, held at East London Coroner's Court, is exploring whether a miscommunication during the ordering process contributed to her untimely death.

On 8 February 2022, Hannah's mother, Abimbola Duyile, ordered two takeaway hot chocolates from the Costa franchise. She requested soya milk and asked the staff to thoroughly clean the equipment used to prepare the drinks to avoid cross-contamination. However, the court heard that a possible miscommunication during the order might have led to Hannah being served a hot chocolate made with cow's milk.

Urmi Akter, the staff member who took the order, exercised her legal right under coroners' rules not to answer questions that could incriminate her during the inquest. The questions pertained to her training, understanding of allergens, and her actions while handling the order. The court was informed that Akter did not show Duyile the ingredients book, which is required under Costa's policy for customers who declare dietary restrictions. Instead, Akter told the court she believed it would be sufficient to clean the jug, assuming that as a mother, Duyile would be well-informed about the risks.

Hannah suffered an immediate allergic reaction after taking a single sip of the hot chocolate. She collapsed at a nearby dentist's office, where she was scheduled for an appointment. Despite the efforts of a pharmacist who administered an EpiPen injection and the rapid response of paramedics, Hannah was pronounced dead by 1 pm that day.

The inquest revealed discrepancies regarding what was ordered and whether proper procedures were followed. The incident has raised serious questions about the training and practices in food service establishments, particularly regarding handling allergens.

Further testimony during the inquest highlighted a missed opportunity to save Hannah's life potentially. Dentist Iqra Farhad testified that her team had offered Duyile an EpiPen containing 300mg of adrenaline, which could have been lifesaving. However, Duyile opted to go to a nearby pharmacy to obtain an antihistamine instead.

The tragic case underscores the critical importance of clear communication and rigorous adherence to safety protocols when dealing with food allergies. As the inquest continues, it serves as a sobering reminder of the potentially fatal consequences of even a tiny mistake.