The family of professional dancer Orla Baxendale is suing popular grocery chain Stew Leonard’s, a cookie manufacturer, and employees for wrongful death. Baxendale, 25, went into anaphylactic shock and died after eating a mislabeled Vanilla Florentine cookie that contained peanuts. The family alleges gross negligence and reckless indifference by professionals who failed to update the ingredient label to warn of the allergen risk.
The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $15,000, as well as monetary and punitive damages to be determined by the court. It accuses Stew Leonard’s, the Connecticut branch where the cookies were purchased, and several employees of negligence for ignoring a manufacturer’s notification that the cookies now contained peanuts. This led to Baxendale, who had a severe peanut allergy, eating the cookie and suffering a fatal allergic reaction.
Stew Leonard’s had recalled several products for incorrect labels after Baxendale’s death, which the lawsuit claims is evidence of systemic issues within the grocery chain. Stew Leonard Jr. admitted the company’s culpability in a video statement following the incident. Cookies United, the manufacturer of the cookies sold by Stew Leonard’s, is also being held liable for producing and selling the product without updating the allergen information.
Official regulators publicly criticized Stew Leonard’s and Cookies United for failing to accurately label the cookies, with the Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner emphasizing the importance of food allergy awareness to prevent future tragedies. The lawsuit alleges violations of state and federal regulations by both companies for not ensuring accurate labeling. Stew Leonard’s and Cookies United did not comment on the lawsuit when contacted by the media.
Orla Baxendale, originally from Manchester, England, had moved to New York City on a scholarship to study at the Ailey School. She had performed at New York Fashion Week and participated in productions at Lincoln Center. The lawsuit filed by her family seeks justice for her unnecessary and tragic death, holding both Stew Leonard’s and Cookies United accountable for their roles in the mislabeling of the cookies that led to Baxendale’s fatal allergic reaction.
