Girl with severe dairy allergy 'died after sip of Costa drink'

A 13-year-old girl with a severe dairy allergy suffered an "immediate reaction" after a sip of a hot chocolate drink from Costa Coffee that was meant to have been made with soya, an inquest has heard.

- Geneva Abdul

Hannah Jacobs, of Barking, east London, was allergic to dairy products and had opted for a "complete avoidance" since she was a toddler.

She died within hours of having the takeaway drink her mother, Abimbola Duyile, had ordered on 8 February 2022.

"I made sure that the staff was aware that this was not a joke," Duyile told the East London coroner's court yesterday, adding that she had been "extra picky" and specific about the order and that she might have sounded "like a crazy mum". Duyile said she needed "to be straight with the staff" before the drink was made.

She said the server agreed that the jug would be cleaned owing to Hannah's severe allergy to cow's milk.

At that point, "Hannah was busy telling me off for being so picky," she added.