Girl, 13, dies after drinking hot chocolate

Teen suffered suspected anaphylactic reaction to cows’ milk in takeaway beverage

A 13-year-old girl with a severe dairy allergy died after drinking a hot chocolate from Costa Coffee that she believed was made with soya milk.
Hannah Jacobs, from Barking in east London, had picked up the takeaway drink with her mother on the way to a dentist appointment on Feb 8, 2023.
The schoolgirl and her family had known of her intolerance to dairy, egg, fish and wheat since she was a toddler and had navigated the risks throughout her life.
Her mother ordered the drink and informed the barista of Hannah’s dairy allergy, according to Leigh Day solicitors.
Concerns about the contents of the drink began after Hannah started to sip it in the dentist’s waiting room and suspected it was made with dairy rather than soya.
They sought help from a nearby pharmacy where Hannah was given an EpiPen to self-administer, which helps to relax the muscles in the airways and combat allergic reactions, buying time for further help to arrive.
An ambulance crew made its way to the scene shortly afterwards and attempted to save her life through resuscitation, but she was pronounced dead at 1pm.
She had suffered a suspected severe anaphylactic reaction to the hot chocolate drink.
An inquest into her death will begin at East London Coroner’s Court on Aug 12 and will attempt to establish the circumstances that led to her death.
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that comes on very suddenly once triggered.
Experts say about 10 people die from anaphylactic shock every year as the result of an allergic reaction each year.
A dairy allergy is the most common in children, with about one in 50 children allergic to cows’ milk in the developed world, according to Allergy UK.
Hannah’s death follows the case of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died in 2016 after an allergic reaction to sesame seeds in a baguette from Pret a Manger.
In response, the government announced the introduction of stricter laws aimed at safeguarding allergy sufferers.
Natasha’s Law came into force in 2021 and requires all food businesses to provide full ingredient lists and clear allergen labelling on pre-packaged foods made on the premises for direct sale.
It had previously been sufficient for stores to have general allergen warnings posted around the shop rather than on individual items made in-store.
Food businesses could face financial penalties if they fail to comply with the regulation, according to the Food Standards Agency.
Costa Coffee has been approached for comment.