HARTFORD, Conn. – Tragedy struck when a New York City woman, Órla Baxendale, passed away after consuming a mislabeled cookie that contained peanuts. The cookie was part of a batch that has since been recalled by Stew Leonard’s, a grocery store chain.
Stew Leonard’s announced the recall of Vanilla Florentine Cookies sold in its Danbury and Newington stores in Connecticut from Nov. 6 to Dec. 31. It was revealed that about 500 packages of the holiday cookies were sold, posing a potential risk to those with peanut allergies.
The mislabeled cookies, produced by Long Island-based wholesaler Cookies United and labeled with the Stew Leonard’s brand name, contained peanuts as an unlisted ingredient. This led to a fatal allergic reaction in Órla Baxendale, who tragically passed away on Jan. 11 after suffering from anaphylactic shock.
Baxendale, originally from East Lancashire in England, had moved to New York City to pursue a career as a dancer. Her passion for dance extended beyond a single discipline, as she was an exquisite ballet, contemporary, and Irish step dancer, according to an online obituary.
Stew Leonard Jr., president and CEO of the retailer, expressed his shock and disappointment in a video posted on Wednesday, stating that the supplier had changed the recipe from soy nuts to peanuts without notifying their chief safety officer.
However, Cookies United released a statement claiming that they had notified Stew Leonard’s last July that the product contained peanuts and that all products shipped to the retailer had been labeled accordingly. They placed the blame on Stew Leonard’s for the incorrect label.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accurate food labeling and the potential dangers of allergens in food products. It also highlights the need for stricter regulations and oversight in the food industry to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
#Disagree
Tragic incident, but it’s important to remember personal responsibility when it comes to food allergies.
So sorry to hear about this tragic incident. It’s a reminder of the importance of accurate food labeling to prevent similar accidents in the future.
I am deeply saddened to hear about this tragic incident. It highlights the urgency for stricter food labeling regulations to prevent similar accidents in the future.