The estate of a young dancer who tragically died after consuming a mislabeled cookie containing peanuts has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Órla Ruth Baxendale, 25, passed away on January 11 after experiencing an anaphylactic reaction to a Florentine cookie purchased from Stew Leonard’s grocery retailer. Baxendale, who suffered from a severe peanut allergy, had relocated from England to New York City to pursue a career in dance. The lawsuit, filed in Superior Court in Waterbury, Connecticut, claims that the failure to accurately label the cookie package was grossly negligent. The batch of holiday cookies sold at Stew Leonard’s stores in Danbury and Newington were later recalled. The cookies, produced by Long Island-based wholesaler Cookies United, were labeled with the Stew Leonard’s brand name.
The lawsuit names both Stew Leonard’s and Cookies United as defendants, along with several Stew Leonard’s employees. It alleges that the failure to properly label the cookie package before sale was an act of gross negligence that showed indifference to human life. The lawsuit contends that both the manufacturer and seller were obligated under the law to accurately declare the ingredients, which was not done in this case. A spokesperson for Stew Leonard’s declined to comment on the pending litigation, while the general counsel for Cookies United did not respond to inquiries seeking comment. Stew Leonard’s had previously stated that the supplier had transitioned from soy nuts to peanuts in the cookie recipe without alerting their chief safety officer. Cookies United maintained that they had informed Stew Leonard’s in July that the product contained peanuts and all products shipped to the retailer were appropriately labeled.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Baxendale’s estate seeks unspecified monetary and punitive damages for the tragic incident. Baxendale was described as being in “the prime of her life” at the time of her passing and had promising aspirations as a dancer in New York City. The mislabeled Florentine cookie that she ingested ultimately led to a fatal anaphylactic reaction due to her severe peanut allergy. While Stew Leonard’s and Cookies United have faced scrutiny for their alleged roles in the mislabeling of the product, the lawsuit aims to hold them accountable for their actions, claiming intentional, reckless, and callous behavior in the handling of the cookie packaging. The legal action underscores the importance of accurate labeling for individuals with food allergies to prevent incidents like the one that claimed Baxendale’s life.
The tragic death of Órla Ruth Baxendale serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of food mislabeling, particularly for individuals with severe allergies. Baxendale’s family and estate have taken legal action in pursuit of accountability for the mislabeled Florentine cookie that led to her untimely passing. The lawsuit alleges that the failure to properly label the product before sale was an act of gross negligence, with both the manufacturer and seller accused of violating laws regarding ingredient disclosure. Stew Leonard’s and Cookies United, along with their employees, are targeted in the legal action, which seeks both monetary and punitive damages for the devastating incident. The case sheds light on the importance of accurate food labeling and the potential risks faced by individuals with allergies in consuming products that may contain hidden allergens.
