
Family of 12-year-old girl from London who died after severe allergic reaction to a milkshake containing nuts welcome fine and community order for cafe operator
The family of 12-year-old Mia Shay St Hilaire from Sydenham, London who died after suffering a severe allergic reaction after drinking a milkshake believed to have contained traces of nuts, have welcomed an £18,000 fine and 100-hour community order for the operator of Bermondsey’s Pop Inn Cafe.
Posted on 27 January 2025
Mia, who had a tree nut allergy, visited the Pop Inn Cafe, Southwark Park Road, London with her aunt and sister where she ordered and drank a milkshake. She suffered a severe allergic reaction and an ambulance was called. Mia was taken to hospital where she sadly died on Wednesday 30 August 2023.
Following Mia’s death, Southwark Council’s food safety team led an investigation. It believes there were hazelnuts and almonds in the milkshake prepared for Mia.
It presented CCTV evidence showing the cafe’s operator, Mr Baris Yucel, 47 had not cleaned the blender before making Mia’s drink and there were substances left behind from the preparation of a previous milkshake.
Southwark Council argued that this caused her to suffer a severe allergic reaction and that Mia’s death may have been avoided.
On 02 December 2024, at Croydon Magistrates Court, Mr Yucel pleaded guilty to all six criminal charges against him. These included not making allergen advice available or visible to consumers, failing to manage allergen contamination during the food production process, and serving food that contained an allergenic ingredient that should not have been present.
Mr Yucel was fined £18,000 and given a 100-hour community order on Friday 24 January 2025.
Mia’s parents, Adrian and Chanel said:
"We think of Mia 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.
Mia’s family are represented by Michelle Victor, partner and Angela Bruno, senior associate solicitor of Leigh Day’s personal injury team.
Michelle Victor said:
“Mia and all other children with allergies should be able to feel safe knowing that businesses serving food and drink adhere to food safety legislation put in place to protect their lives. But unfortunately, far too often we see that this doesn’t happen, which can have tragic consequences such as in this case.
“We are continuing to support Mia’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”.
Since Mia’s death, enforcement officers from Southwark Council have been visiting the Pop Inn Cafe, to ensure its following new procedures aimed at preventing contamination.
An inquest into Mia’s death is still due to be heard.
Related Content

Michelle Victor
Michelle is a leading consumer rights lawyer and head of the food safety team in London

Peanut allergy sufferer, 19, collapsed and died after eating snack at Turkey holiday hotel, family allege
A 19-year-old holidaymaker collapsed and died after suffering an allergic reaction to a dessert he ate at a hotel rooftop terrace in Antalya, Turkey, his family claim.

Mother of milk allergy teenager Hannah Jacobs calls for serious changes in anaphylaxis training
The mother of 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs has called for allergy training to be taken more seriously by businesses and healthcare professionals following the death of her daughter due to a severe allergic reaction to a hot chocolate drink containing cow’s milk.