13-year-old Hannah Jacobs, from the UK, was severely allergic to dairy products and was diagnosed when she was a toddler.
Growing up, she had grown used to managing her allergies in her day to day life.
However, the teenager would die only hours after taking a sip of a hot chocolate made from cows’ milk on February 8, 2022, an East London Coroner’s Court was told.
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Barista Urmi Akter took the order for the takeaway drinks from Hannah’s mother Abimbola Duyile, who has previously said at a hearing that her 'anger gave way to terror' after her child’s reaction to the drink.
Hannah had received the drink from a possible ‘miscommunication’ of the order, the inquest heard.
Ms Akter used her legal right under coroners’ rules not to answer a series of questions that 'could be seen as incriminating', as she gave evidence at the inquest on Tuesday (Aug 13).
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Duyile explained at the coroner’s court hearing what she believes happened ahead of her daughter’s death.
The court heard Hannah suffered an 'immediate reaction' after a single sip before the pair attended a dentist appointment at 11am. Hannah was declared dead by 1pm that day.
In a statement read out in court, Duyile said: “When I arrived at the coffee shop I said to the person serving that we both would like hot chocolate.
"I said that Hannah was severely allergic to cows’ milk and said they should clean the jug – to which they agreed.”
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Ms Duyile recalled how her daughter abruptly got up and went to the toilet and shouted ‘that was not soya milk', when they were in the dental practice.
The inquest has heard there is a factual dispute about the order and Ms Duyile says she asked for two soya hot chocolates and asked staff to thoroughly clean the equipment.
Ms Akter, who had worked at the Costa Coffee franchise in Barking for about eight months, told the court she could hear and see Ms Duyile 'clearly' as she served her at the counter.
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Under Costa’s rules, customers who ask for a non-dairy product or state they have a dietary requirement should be shown a book that is kept under the till, which includes ingredients and details of how the drink is made, the court heard.
Speaking about the incident, Atker said in statement: “I did not show the mother the book as she told me washing the jug was fine. I thought she, as the mother, would know more about (it).
“I gave her the drink she requested.”
Assistant coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe, who had told Ms Akter she did not have to answer certain questions, said: “As far as I understand you said the mother mentioned the dairy allergy. The book was not shown to the mother and only thing done was to make one drink, wash the jug and make the other drink.”
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The inquest is set to hear further testimonies, after which the coroner will give a ruling on the circumstances of Hannah's death.
UNILAD has previously contacted Costa Coffee for comment.
Topics: News, UK News, Health, Food and Drink
Gerrard Kaonga