In a heart-wrenching incident, the dance community mourns the loss of 25-year-old Orla Baxendale, a vibrant professional dancer residing in Manhattan, originally from the UK. The devastating news comes as her family’s attorney claims that her untimely death on January 11 was “100% preventable.”
The Unfortunate Incident
Attorney Marijo Adimey, representing the Baxendale family, revealed that Orla succumbed to anaphylactic shock triggered by an allergic reaction. Describing her as young, vivacious, and beautiful, Adimey expressed the family’s disbelief at the tragic loss.
The Controversy Unfolds
The controversy surrounding the incident centers on Florentine Cookies sold at Stew Leonard’s, sourced from a Long Island company, Cookies United. The company asserts that it had notified Stew Leonard’s about a change in ingredients, specifically the inclusion of peanuts, during the summer. However, Stew Leonard’s released a video denying any prior knowledge of the ingredient change.
Stew Leonard’s subsequently issued a product recall, acknowledging the serious nature of the situation. Cookies United claims that their packaging clearly indicates the presence of peanuts when leaving their Islip facility, but Stew Leonard’s allegedly failed to disclose this crucial information on their own packaging.
State Investigation
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is actively investigating the case, reporting that Bexandale consumed the fatal cookie at a social gathering in Connecticut. Shockingly, the ingredient list did not mention peanuts.
Expert Opinion
Punita Ponda, the associate division chief for allergy and immunology at Northwell Health, emphasizes the preventability of food allergy deaths. She underscores the importance of manufacturers taking sufficient precautions to avoid exposing individuals to potential allergens.
Ponda urges families to review allergy action plans, familiarizing themselves with the initial symptoms of severe allergies in their loved ones. Carrying life-saving medication, such as an EpiPen, is deemed non-negotiable when navigating environments where exposure to allergens is possible.
As the investigation unfolds, the dance community, friends, and family of Orla Baxendale are left grappling with the profound loss of a talented and promising individual. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the critical importance of transparency in food labeling and heightened awareness surrounding severe allergies to prevent such heartbreaking tragedies.
