Ballet dancer, 25, who died after eating cookies 'mislabeled saying they didn't contain peanuts' suffered such an extreme reaction that her EpiPen couldn't save her, lawyer says

A British ballet dancer who died after eating cookies sold at a Connecticut store which allegedly failed to disclose that they contained peanuts suffered an allergic reaction so extreme not even her EpiPen could save her, lawyers said.

Órla Baxendale, 25, who was originally from Helmshore, East Lancashire, but based in New York, went into anaphylactic shock and died on January 11 after consuming cookies that contained peanuts.

The Vanilla Florentine cookies were subsequently recalled due to the packaging not having a peanut allergy warning. 

'Orla was very careful and hyper-vigilant about everything she ate, and always thoroughly checked the ingredients on all packaging,' a statement from attorney Marijo D. Adminey given to the New York Post read.

'She always carried an EpiPen with her and surrounded herself with people who know how to administer one. 

'In fact, when this tragic and preventable incident occurred and after she began to have an anaphylactic reaction, an EpiPen was used but due to the severity of her allergy, it was not effective,' it added. 

Órla Baxendale, 25,  suffered an allergic reaction to cookies from a Connecticut store so severe that not even  her EpiPen could save her, lawyers said.

The sweet treats were manufactured by Cookies United and sold at Stew Leonard's as part of a holiday run

English-born Baxendale was a talented dancer who had moved from England to New York to pursue her dream

Adminey also slammed CEO Stew Leonard Jr.'s insistence that his eponymous supermarket chain had not been told by the cookie manufacturer they had changed the ingredients despite its insistence it had passed on the message in July 2023.

'In what could only be described as deplorable conduct, Stew Leonard chose to post a video statement with his family alongside him attempting yet again to circumvent blame by stating that his Chief Products Officer was unaware of the change in ingredients,' the lawyer said.

'Instead of standing up and taking full responsibility as the public would have expected them to, as the family of Orla would have expected him to, Stew Leonard's is engaging in a public relations media campaign and promoting their own self-interests,' she insisted.

The Baxendale family has since issued a heartbreaking warning about the importance of properly labelling food as they urged people to donate to an allergy awareness non-profit.

'Órla was truly one of a kind. She was a beautiful, radiant, brave soul who always believed she would achieve her biggest dreams - and that's exactly what she did. She danced her way across the world and lived life to the fullest every day,' a statement from the family said.

'We will never recover from the pain of having her taken from us so soon, in the prime of her life. But we are also so proud to call her our daughter and sister, and to have had the privilege of sharing 25 years with such an incredibly special person.

'It is incomprehensible that allergies can take lives in 2024, and we want to urge everyone to educate yourselves and those around you about anaphylaxis, how to use EpiPens and the early warning signs for severe allergic reactions.

'We have been overwhelmed by the hundreds of messages coming in from across the world, from all the people who loved Órla and will never forget meeting her or seeing her dance. It is clear that she meant so much to so many people, with her mesmerising talent, her cheeky nature and her incredible compassion for others.

Attorney Marijo D. Adminey slammed CEO Stew Leonard's video statement in which he put the blame on the cookies' manufacturer 

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is advising anyone with a nut allergy to get rid of the cookies immediately

'The truth is Órla got more out of life in 25 years than most do in a lifetime, and she will now live on in all our hearts forever.'

The sweet treats were manufactured by Cookies United and sold at Stew Leonard's as part of a holiday run.

The grocery store chain's CEO has claimed his company was not notified about a change in the ingredients of the product which added peanuts, something Cookies United vehemently disputes.

Stew Leonard Jr., the supermarket's CEO said in a statement that Cookies United had changed the recipe from soy nuts to peanuts without notifying the company.

The cookies were then allegedly repackaged and relabeled under the Stew Leonard's branding where they were sold in store, without any mention of peanuts.  

'This has never happened at Stew Leonard's before,' Leonard said in a statement. 'We have very strict food safety practices and one of them is having all proper ingredients listed on our labels. 

Stew Leonard Jr., the supermarket's CEO said that Cookies United had changed the recipe from soy nuts to peanuts without notifying the company

'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.'

His account has been hotly contested by Cookies United who claim they did notify the company via an email seen by DailyMail.com.

'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,' a statement from the manufacturer said.

'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 labelled 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.'

Baxendale was born in East Lancashire in the UK and had moved to New York to work as a professional dancer

She had achieved a scholarship to the prestigious The Ailey School and had been in the states for five years

Baxendale was born in East Lancashire in the UK and had moved to New York to work as a professional dancer, achieving a scholarship to the prestigious The Ailey School.

The dancer had been in the states for five years and was due to embark on a world tour with dance company MOMIX. 

She was in Milford, Connecticut preparing for a role in a dance company's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland at a social gathering when she ate the cookies.

Attorneys for her family blamed her death on, 'the gross negligence and reckless conduct of the manufacturer and/or sellers who failed to properly identify the contents of the cookie on the packaging'.

'This failure in proper disclosure has led to this devastating yet preventable outcome,' the statement from Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf said.

'Her sudden loss is not only a personal tragedy for her family and friends but also a significant loss to the artistic community.

'We stand with Órla'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. 

Baxendale was in Milford, Connecticut preparing for a role in a dance company's adaptation of Alice in Wonderland at a social gathering when she ate the cookies

 Since her tragic death, tributes have poured in from her alma mater and the dance community in New York and abroad

'Órla's vibrant spirit and her relentless pursuit of excellence in her art have left an indelible mark on all who knew her.'

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection is advising anyone with a nut allergy to dispose of the cookies immediately.

The products were sold at the Danbury and Newington locations from November 6 to December 31.

Stew Leonard's is offering customers who return the cookies a full refund.

Tributes poured into the talented dancer's local newspaper the Lancashire Telegraph following news of her death.

'A radiant force both on and off the dance floor, she embodied a thirst for life that was truly captivating,' a statement from Elmhurst Ballet School said.

'Her authenticity and ability to stay true to herself resonated with all who had the privilege of knowing her, and she had a remarkable gift for lighting up any room she entered.

'Her exceptional talent has left a lasting impression, ensuring that her legacy as both an artist and an individual will be fondly remembered at our school.'

The products were sold in Connecticut's at the Danbury and Newington locations from November 6 to December 31

'This past week, the New York City dance community lost a beautiful dancer, avid dreamer, and beloved member of the Steps on Broadway team, Órla Baxendale,' New York dance studio, Steps on Broadway, wrote.

While her alma mater The Ailey School said: 'We are deeply saddened by the untimely passing of alumna Órla Baxendale.

'She had become an integral part of the New York dance world, pursuing her passion, shining her bright light, and doing what she loved most.

'Her loss will be profoundly felt by her friends, colleagues, and all who knew her. We will remember her for her joyful spirit and boundless talent. Our thoughts are with her family at this devastating time.'

 Órla’s life was celebrated with a memorial service at the Holy Cross Church in Manhattan, New York.

Her funeral will be held in Rossendale, Lancashire in due course and her family is fundraising for Allergy UK and Anaphylaxis UK.