Parents of girl who died from allergic reaction welcome fine for cafe operator
The parents of a 12-year-old girl who tragically passed away after suffering a severe allergic reaction to a milkshake are hopeful that a "stunning message" will be conveyed to businesses after a cafe owner who created the drink in question was fined £18,000.
Experiencing discomfort, including digestive upset, and a potentially life-threatening reaction;
said.
Mia is always in our thoughts, and it's even more painful to accept that her passing might have been avoided with such a simple solution, making our sadness all the more overwhelming.
Adverting to CCTV footage, the cafe proprietor, Baris Yucel, was found to have failed to cleanse the blender prior to preparing Mia's beverage, with the local authority subsequently noting that residues left over from another drink in the preparation had triggered the reaction.
In December last year, Mr Yucel, a 47-year-old man, pleaded guilty to six charges at Croydon Magistrates' Court, including selling food that had an allergenic ingredient which should not have been included.
He was fined eighteen thousand pounds and handed a 100 hour community service order during a sentencing hearing on Friday at the same court.
Mia's parents, Adrian and his wife Chanel, stated: "We think about Mia all the time and the fact that her death could have potentially been avoided so easily only makes our grief even greater as a family."
“We urge businesses serving food and drink to take heed of this conviction and fine, to understand the severe consequences of disregarding food safety protocols nationwide.”
Mia and other children who suffer from allergies should be able to feel secure in the knowledge that food establishments are following food safety laws designed to safeguard their well-being.
Michelle Victor, solicitor acting on behalf of the family, pointed out that businesses not complying with food safety regulations can lead to "devastating outcomes".
All children, including Mia and those with allergies, should be able to dine out confidently, knowing their safety is a priority thanks to food safety laws in place," she said. "However, we're sadly all too often reminded that this isn't always the case, which can have devastating repercussions, as we're seeing here.
We are continuing to offer our support to Mia's relatives and acknowledge that no outcome can compensate for the trauma they've endured, but this prosecution serves as a significant step in their pursuit of justice for individuals beset by food allergies.
Southwark councillor Natasha Ennin described the incident as "a tragedy".
This could have likely been prevented if the cafe owner had complied with basic food safety guidelines, and we will continue to collaborate with local businesses in Southwark to guarantee adherence to these rules by every food establishment.
Mr Yucel pleaded guilty to six charges:
A product, a milkshake, received by a customer was deemed not fit for consumption as it posed a health risk due to the presence of an allergenic ingredient that should not have been included. – Selling a food product whose quality, nature or substance did not meet the customer's requirements.
A representative from the local authority's regulatory department has undertaken multiple inspections at the cafe to verify that measures are in place to avoid a similar occurrence from happening again.
The lawyer for Mr Yucel stated that the cafe owner tends to think of Mia and her family on a daily basis.
A statement from Isin Vahib said: “Before handing down a sentence, District Judge Dean observed that the 47-year-old defendant had a previously good track record and noted that there is no record of any incidents with him in the 22 years he spent in the food industry.”
Mr Yucel has had to live with the impact that has ensued as a result of what happened, and each day is a constant reminder of the child and her family.
“Pop Inn Cafe had a good food safety record and the judge accepted that Mr Yucel had shown genuine regret and remorse.”
In September and October 2023, he quickly took action to improve his knowledge and learning, and he admitted to his mistake as soon as the chance arose.
Unfortunately, the café wasn't informed by the child's carer about the child's allergy to nuts, and the Judge observed that despite the lack of a sign to inform businesses about food allergies or intolerances, this wouldn't have altered the outcome in this heartbreaking incident.
Mr Yucel has had to endure the aftermath and every day is a reminder of the child and her family.
Pop Inn Cafe was awarded a perfect 5-star Food Hygiene rating in October 2023 and still holds this top mark following a full health checkup by Southwark Council in September 2024.
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