London, August 10: An inquest is set to begin next week into the tragic death of 13-year-old Hannah Jacobs, who died after a suspected allergic reaction to a hot chocolate purchased from Costa Coffee in Barking, East London. The incident occurred on February 8 last year, when Hannah collapsed and died following what is believed to be an anaphylactic reaction.

According to reports in The Guardian, Hannah and her mother had stopped at a Costa Coffee shop on their way to a dentist appointment. Hannah, who had multiple food allergies, including dairy, was supposed to receive a hot chocolate made with soy milk. Despite her mother's warning to the barista about Hannah's dairy intolerance, it is alleged that the drink was made with regular milk. UK Shocker: Student Dies Using Two to Three 'Big Bottles' of Laughing Gas Everyday.

After tasting the hot chocolate, Hannah immediately recognized the mistake and experienced severe distress. Her mother rushed her to a nearby pharmacy, where an EpiPen was administered in an attempt to counteract the reaction. Despite the quick intervention and the arrival of emergency services, Hannah could not be revived and was pronounced dead at 1 PM. Michael Mosley Death: Body of Missing British TV Presenter Found on Greek Island.

Hannah’s death recalls the 2016 case of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, who died from an allergic reaction to sesame seeds in a Pret a Manger baguette. That incident prompted the introduction of Natasha’s Law in 2021, requiring businesses to label allergens in pre-packaged foods prepared on-site.

Hannah's death is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by the 2.4 million people living with food allergies in the UK. Each year, around 10 people die from food allergies, and approximately 5,000 are hospitalised due to severe reactions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2024 02:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).