Tragic Death of 13-Year-Old at Costa Coffee

In an inquest into the tragic death of 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs, who suffered a fatal allergic reaction after consuming a hot chocolate from Costa Coffee, a regional operations manager stated that it was "not concerning" if staff did not fully understand the term "allergen." The court heard that Hannah, who had severe allergies to dairy, fish, and eggs, died shortly after taking a sip of a drink that was supposed to be made with soya milk. The incident occurred on February 8, 2023, when her mother ordered two hot chocolates, requesting that the jug be washed to avoid cross-contamination. Faton Abrashi, the Costa manager responsible for allergy procedures, explained that baristas could only serve customers with allergies if they had completed specific training. However, the training was only available in English, raising concerns about staff comprehension. A witness statement from a barista indicated a lack of understanding regarding allergens, highlighting a potential gap in training effectiveness. Abrashi acknowledged that he was unaware if staff used translation tools like Google Translate during their training. During the inquest, Hannah's mother, Abimbola Duyile, emphasized that she had clearly communicated her daughter's dairy allergy to the staff. Despite her request for the jug to be cleaned, the barista did not provide the allergy information book, which could have clarified the ingredients used in the hot chocolate. The court questioned whether proper procedures were followed and if the lack of communication contributed to the tragic outcome.