Brit dancer, 25, collapses and dies after eating 'incorrectly labelled' cookie
A British woman has died from anaphylactic shock. in the US after eating a cookie since recalled from sale amid a dispute over who is responsible for its 'incorrect labelling'.
Orla Baxendale, 25, a dancer originally from Lancashire, had moved to New York to pursue her career in the arts. When tragedy struck, an EpiPen was unable to save her.
This cookies were sold by Stew Leonard's, a chain of supermarkets in the US, and manufactured by Cookies United, with undisclosed peanuts. The grocery store, in partnership with the US Food and Drug Administration, has since recalled the batch of Vanilla Florentine Cookies. About 500 packages of the cookies were sold, Stew Leonard's said in a video post about Ms Baxendale's death and has asked for customers to return the product to their stores.
A statement by Orla's family's lawyer on January 11 said her death was confirmed as an "unfortunate incident involving the consumption of a cookie." The legal representatives wrote: "Preliminary investigation has revealed that Órla’s death occurred due to the gross negligence and reckless conduct of the manufacturer and/or sellers who failed to properly identify the contents of the cookie on the packaging. This failure in proper disclosure has led to this devastating yet preventable outcome."
They added: "We stand with Órla’s family in this difficult time and extend our deepest condolences. They have been overwhelmed and comforted by the outpouring of love, support, and tributes from around the world. Órla’s vibrant spirit and her relentless pursuit of excellence in her art have left an indelible mark on all who knew her."
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Back home in Lancashire, tributes poured in for the young and talented dancer. Orla's sister and star of E4 series My Mad Fat Diary, Ciara Baxendale, wrote on Instagram: "Órla was radiant, a dreamer. I am so honoured to say that this girl is my sister, she was just so cherished by everyone. She aimed for the stars and truly deeply lived for her dreams every day of her life. I’ll never stop talking about my Órla. I felt like she was my twin, my little sidekick.
In a tribute, her sister Ciara said 'everything about her was magical' (orla_baxendale/Instagram)
Orla was a ballet, contemporary, and Irish step dancer with big dreams (orla_baxendale/Instagram)"She used to always joke and say that she was my mini me, but there is no one like Órla. She was so unique and special, there never was anyone like her and there never will be.
"I’ll will never ever, as long as I am on this earth, stop talking about how radiant, how beautiful, how kind, how cool, how hilarious, how witty, how vibrant she was. She had a golden touch. Everything about her was magical, she was just so otherworldly. She looks just like an angel, and I just cannot believe that she has gone. I’ll carry her with me always, in my heart, and by my side. If you met her, you are lucky, she was just such a warm and golden soul, she’s left a trail of light behind her and she will never be forgotten.
"It is just incomprehensible that allergies can take lives and it’s a tragedy and a living nightmare that they do. Please, please educate yourself and everyone around you about anaphylaxis, how to use epipens and how to spot the warning signs for severe allergic reactions. I wouldn’t want this to happen to any other family, the pain we feel for her absence we will never have the words for. I love her with my whole entire heart and her presence in our lives will be missed forever. I really hope our little Órla is somewhere dancing amongst the stars."
Westholme School in Blackburn, where Orla attended before moving to the US, spoke of her "charismatic smile and her happy, kind-hearted nature" in a tribute. The school said: "This weekend we received the tragic news of the passing of former student Órla Baxendale. Órla joined Westholme in 2010, brightening the corridors with her charismatic smile and her happy, kind-hearted nature. As an outstanding dancer from a young age, Órla was pursuing her dream as a professional dancer in New York City. We will always remember her lighting up the stage with her brilliance and raw talent."
Stew Leonard's issued an updated recall of the Vanilla and Chocolate Florentine Cookies on Thursday, following an earlier recall this week, saying "the cookies contain undeclared peanuts and eggs" and that those with an allergy to either food "run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction". The product had been sold in two Connecticut towns starting 6 November and they remained on shelves until the end of the year.
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli called Ms Baxendale's death "a heartbreaking tragedy". He said his state agency was working with local and federal officials as well as other states in an effort to "prevent a similar tragedy from occurring in the future".
Stew Leonard's president and CEO Stew Leonard Jr alleged that the Cookies United changed the ingredients "from soy nuts to peanuts" and the company's chief safety officer was not notified of the change, a claim challenged by the Long Island-based manufacturer, saying that it notified Stew Leonard's in July 2023 of the recipe change.
General counsel for the company said all products shipped to Stew Leonard's were labelled accordingly, adding that the product "is sold under the Stew Leonard's brand and repackaged at their facilities" with the incorrect label.
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