Woman with allergy dies after eating cookies with undeclared peanuts, officials say

(WFSB/Gray News) - A 25-year-old woman reportedly had a fatal allergic reaction when she ate cookies whose peanuts were not declared on product packaging. The grocery store and cookie company responsible for the product are blaming each other for the mislabeling.

Orla Baxendale, a 25-year-old dancer, had a severe allergic reaction and died from anaphylactic shock after she ate a Vanilla Florentine Cookie sold by Stew Leonard’s grocery stores, according to a statement released Wednesday by her legal representatives.

Baxendale, who lived in New York, ate a cookie at a social gathering in Connecticut, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection said. It contained peanuts that were not listed in its contents on the packaging.

Orla Baxendale, a 25-year-old dancer, had a severe allergic reaction and died from... — Orla Baxendale, a 25-year-old dancer, had a severe allergic reaction and died from anaphylactic shock after she ate the mislabeled cookies sold by Stew Leonard’s grocery stores, according to a statement by her legal representatives.(Source: Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf)

“We stand with Orla’s family in this difficult time and extend our deepest condolences. They have been overwhelmed and comforted by the outpouring of love, support and tributes from around the world. Orla’s vibrant spirit and her relentless pursuit of excellence in her art have left an indelible mark on all who knew her,” read the statement from her legal representatives in part.

Grocery store chain Stew Leonard’s says they purchased the now-recalled Vanilla Florentine cookies from Cookies United, a wholesaler out of New York. The grocery store said in a statement they were not notified there were peanuts in the product, WFSB reports.

“It was a holiday cookie. It was a one-shot deal. We bought it from an outside supplier, and unfortunately, this supplier changed the recipe and started going from soy nuts to peanuts. Our chief safety officer was never notified,” said Stew Leonard Jr., the grocery store’s president and CEO, in a video statement, given Wednesday to WFSB.

He went on to say the company takes labeling very seriously.

“It’s a sad day for us. We heard that a customer passed, who had a peanut allergy, that bought a cookie here at Stew Leonard’s,” Leonard said.

The Vanilla Florentine Cookie sold at two Stew Leonard’s grocery stores have been recalled.... — The Vanilla Florentine Cookie sold at two Stew Leonard’s grocery stores have been recalled. They contain peanuts that were not declared on product packaging.(Stew Leonard's)

But Cookies United said they did notify Stew Leonard’s in July that the ingredients in the cookies had changed.

Cookies United sent WFSB a copy of an email they say they sent to 11 Stew Leonard’s employees on July 20, 2023. The email says both the Vanilla and Chocolate Florentine cookies now contain peanuts. They also attached labels they say they sent to Stew Leonard’s that show peanuts were listed.

Cookies United says their product is sold under the Stew Leonard’s brand and repackaged and relabeled at Stew Leonard’s facilities.

The recalled cookies were sold at Stew Leonard’s Danbury and Newington locations from Nov. 6 to Dec. 31. The state Department of Consumer Protection says anyone with a nut allergy should get rid of them immediately.

Stew Leonard’s says you can bring the cookies back for a full refund. For more information on the recall, click here.

Cookies United sent a statement from general counsel Walker G. Flanary III on Wednesday:

“It has come to the attention of Cookies United that a customer of Stew Leonard’s has tragically died as a result of eating cookies containing peanuts. Our hearts and condolences are first with the family of this Stew Leonard’s customer. Stew Leonard’s claimed in an earlier press release that “The cookies contain peanuts, which was an ingredient not disclosed to Stew Leonard’s by the manufacturer.” [bold is ours] Unfortunately, considering the tragedy of these circumstances, we need to point out that Stew Leonard’s was notified by Cookies United in July of 2023 that this product now contains peanuts and all products shipped to them have been labeled accordingly. This product is sold under the Stew Leonard’s brand and repackaged at their facilities. The incorrect label was created by, and applied to, their product by Stew Leonard’s. In the 24 hours since Cookies United learned of this tragedy we have been cooperating with the New York State Department of Agriculture and have been informed we are in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations relating to this product. Our deepest sympathies to the family of this Stew Leonard’s customer.”

Stew Leonard’s released a statement from its president and CEO on Tuesday:

“This has never happened at Stew Leonard’s before. We have very strict food safety practices and one of them is having all proper ingredients listed on our labels. Unfortunately, we are buying these cookies from a company who never told us they changed the ingredients. We sold them in good faith and one customer was affected. We were devastated to learn this news and our family is sending our deepest condolences.”

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