Costa drink dying: Hannah Jacobs' mum says she lies awake at night time

The mom of a teenage lady who died of an allergic response after consuming a Costa sizzling chocolate has instructed the BBC she lies awake at night time excited about whether or not she may have prevented her dying.

Hannah Jacobs, 13, had a extreme dairy allergy and died inside hours of taking a sip of the drink on 8 February final yr.

Abimbola Duyile instructed BBC Breakfast she needed to make sure no father or mother misplaced their youngster in the identical means and known as on the federal government to boost consciousness about using EpiPens.

A spokesperson for the Division of Well being and Social Care stated ministers would “fastidiously take into account” the views of allergy consultants and any suggestions made by the coroner at Hannah’s inquest.

Chatting with BBC Breakfast, Ms Duyile stated: “I am praying the federal government are listening to this.

“If we are able to get the federal government no less than [to] let individuals know the signs of somebody having allergic response, it is going to be wonderful. They’ll save a life.

“Train all people methods to use an EpiPen, whether or not it is a child or grownup.”

She additionally known as for eating places and low outlets to be clear about allergy symptoms when taking orders and for higher signage on gadgets which comprise allergens.

Earlier this month, an inquest concluded Hannah died after a “failure to follow the processes in place to debate allergy symptoms” and a “failure of communication” between the espresso store employees and Hannah’s mom.

Hannah and her mom had purchased a sizzling chocolate from a Costa Espresso department in Barking, east London.

Her mom stated she ordered two soya sizzling sweets – which was disputed by the coffee shop worker who made the drink throughout the inquest – and had requested employees to scrub the tools they have been utilizing.

The inquest heard the recent chocolate might have been made with cows’ milk and Ms Duyile was not proven a e book, which included elements of how the drink was made.

{The teenager} later turned unwell in a dentist surgical procedure after taking one sip of the drink, and shouted: “That was not soya milk.”

Ms Duyile then rushed Hannah to a pharmacy, the place she handed out.

A autopsy examination discovered Hannah died after struggling a hypersensitive anaphylactic response triggered by an ingredient in her sizzling chocolate inflicting an allergic response.

The inquest additionally heard proof from Costa workers about their on-line coaching on allergens, together with from one who stated they failed the quiz 20 occasions earlier than passing.

“Everyone wants to alter their methods,” her mom instructed the BBC. “For those who’re coaching any person, they can not perceive the allergen on the corporate web site and it is taken them 20 occasions to do it over once more, you might want to ask your self , ‘[is] one thing off right here?’

“Your employees ought to know what goes in the whole lot.

“This must be a typical fundamental factor. Each single particular person [in] eating places, espresso outlets must know.”

Ms Duyile stated her world had been “turned the other way up” by Hannah’s dying.

“Most nights I keep awake considering perhaps there’s something I may have achieved otherwise… perhaps carrying an EpiPen with me. “

She stated Hannah was “a vivid youngster, humorous, energetic” and “liked Christmas and her birthdays”.

“She [would] have been a tremendous grownup,” she stated.

The Meals Requirements Company (FSA), accountable for meals security throughout England, Wales and Northern Eire, instructed the BBC it was creating a greatest follow steerage on the availability of allergen data in writing and dialog.

It stated it hoped to seek the advice of on the steerage in October, with it revealed in early 2025.

In a press release, a Costa Espresso spokesman stated Hannah’s dying was a “tragedy and our heartfelt ideas stay along with her household and associates”.

“Now we have strict allergy coaching and procedures in place to assist to minimise the danger to these clients that suffer from allergens, nevertheless, we agree with the coroner’s conclusion that our allergen course of was not adopted that day at our franchise companion retailer,” he added.

Costa says it’s going to proceed to overview employees coaching and is working alongside the Natasha Allergy Analysis Basis – a charity elevating consciousness about allergy symptoms.

A Division of Well being spokesperson stated: “Now we have been in ongoing discussions with the Natasha Allergy Analysis Basis about bettering help for individuals with allergy symptoms and ministers will fastidiously take into account their views and any suggestions made by the coroner following the tragic dying of Hannah Jacobs.”