The dance community is mourning the loss of a vibrant 25-year-old dancer who tragically died following a severe allergic reaction after consuming mislabeled cookies. Órla Baxendale, a New York resident and native of the United Kingdom, unknowingly ate a cookie from Stew Leonard’s grocery chain that, despite not being labeled, contained peanuts. This heartbreaking incident has led to a widespread recall of Stew Leonard’s vanilla and chocolate Florentine cookies and ignited a critical conversation about food labeling accuracy and allergy awareness.
Stew Leonard’s, a popular grocery chain, issued a recall this week for its seasonal vanilla Florentine cookies initially, later expanding it to include chocolate Florentine cookies. The recall notice explicitly warned that these cookies contain undeclared peanuts and eggs, posing a significant risk to individuals with allergies to these ingredients. “People with an allergy or severe sensitivity to peanuts or eggs run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products,” the company stated in their recall announcement. The company and health officials are currently investigating the precise cause of this critical labeling error that resulted in the dancer’s death and the subsequent cookie recall.
Alt text: Package of Stew Leonard’s Florentine cookies, subject to recall due to undeclared peanuts and eggs, emphasizing the danger for individuals with allergies.
Órla Baxendale, identified by her legal representatives, tragically passed away on January 11th due to anaphylactic shock. This fatal reaction was directly linked to the consumption of the mislabeled cookie at a social gathering in Connecticut. Her attorneys released a statement condemning the “gross negligence and reckless conduct” of those responsible for the labeling error. They emphasized that the failure to accurately disclose peanut content on the packaging led to this preventable tragedy.
The mislabeled cookies were produced by Cookies United, a wholesale manufacturer based in Islip, New York, and branded under the Stew Leonard’s name. Stew Leonard Jr., the company’s president and CEO, expressed deep sorrow in a video statement, stating the company was “devastated” by the news. He explained that Stew Leonard’s sources these cookies from an outside supplier and claimed that their chief safety officer was not informed about a crucial recipe change. According to Leonard, the supplier had switched from soy nuts to peanuts in the recipe, a change that was allegedly not communicated to Stew Leonard’s, leading to the fatal mislabeling.
Alt text: Portrait of Órla Baxendale, a young and talented dancer who tragically died due to a severe allergic reaction from mislabeled cookies, highlighting the personal tragedy behind the food safety issue.
However, Cookies United disputes this claim, asserting that they did notify multiple Stew Leonard’s employees via email about the recipe modification in July 2023. Walker Flanary, general counsel for Cookies United, stated that they are cooperating fully with the investigation and believe they have complied with all relevant regulations. This conflicting information underscores the complexity of the investigation and the urgent need to determine accountability in this tragic case.
Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli affirmed the seriousness of the situation, describing it as a “heartbreaking tragedy that should never have happened.” Investigators from the state and federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are working diligently with Stew Leonard’s and Cookies United to pinpoint the exact point of failure in the labeling process and to prevent similar incidents in the future. Their investigation also extends to determining if any other products might be affected by similar labeling errors and distributed to other retailers.
Approximately 500 packages of the recalled Florentine cookies were sold between November 6th and December 31st, 2023, in Stew Leonard’s stores in Danbury and Newington, Connecticut. Consumers who purchased these cookies, especially those with peanut allergies, are strongly advised to discard them immediately or return them to Stew Leonard’s for a full refund. While Órla Baxendale’s death is currently the only reported fatality potentially linked to these mislabeled cookies, authorities are urging vigilance and caution.
The loss of Órla Baxendale is deeply felt not only by her family and friends but also by the international dance community. After moving from the U.K. to New York in 2018 to study at the prestigious Ailey School, she became a cherished member of the New York dance scene. The Ailey School described her as an “integral part” of their community, celebrating her passion and talent. MOMIX, the dance company where Baxendale was most recently a member, remembered her as “an embodiment of enthusiasm, strength, and beauty,” praising her exceptional skills in ballet, contemporary, and Irish step dance. Her vibrant personality and “boundless love” touched everyone around her, and her passing serves as a stark reminder of the preciousness of life and the devastating consequences of seemingly small errors in food safety.
This tragedy underscores the critical importance of accurate and transparent food labeling, particularly concerning allergens. For individuals with food allergies, such as peanut allergy, relying on accurate labeling is not merely a matter of preference but a matter of life and death. The case of the dancer who died from mislabeled cookies should serve as a wake-up call to food manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers to reinforce and meticulously verify their labeling processes to prevent future tragedies and protect consumers with allergies. Moving forward, enhanced vigilance, stricter regulations, and improved communication across the food supply chain are crucial to ensure that “mislabeled cookies” never again become the cause of such profound loss.
