Grocery chain Stew Leonard’s has issued a recall on vanilla and chocolate Florentine cookies, following the death of professional dancer Órla Baxendale due to undeclared nuts. The cookies were manufactured at Cookies United in Islip.
Baxendale, who had a peanut allergy, went into anaphylactic shock after eating one of the cookies at a gathering in Connecticut, and though others injected her with an EpiPen following the reaction, she did not survive. She was 25 years old.
“Stew Leonard’s, in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, is recalling Vanilla and Chocolate Florentine Cookies that were sold only at Stew Leonard’s in Danbury and Newington, Conn. from November 6 – December 31, 2023,” the chain said in a statement. “The cookies contain undeclared peanuts and eggs. 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. One death has been reported that may be associated with the mislabeled product.”
Stew Leonard’s added in the statement that it intended to figure out where in the supply chain the error occurred – and placed blame on Cookies United. Various outlets reported that Cookies United responded saying Wednesday that Stew Leonard’s had been notified in July that the product now contained peanuts.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health also vowed to get to the bottom of the incident.
“Correct labeling so that people who have food allergies can appropriately protect themselves is of utmost importance. I am devastated to learn of this incident and will work with partners to ensure that we can protect people with food allergies. I cannot stress enough the importance of food allergy awareness so that an avoidable tragedy like this doesn’t happen again,” Commissioner Manisha Juthani said. “We will continue to work with all our partners — including restaurants and retailers — to provide education on the dangers of food allergens so that best practices are being following for the safety of the residents of Connecticut.”
