A British ballet dancer has died in the US after suffering an allergic reaction to cookies that did not state they contained peanuts.
Órla Baxendale, 25, died on January 11 after suffering severe anaphylactic shock after eating Florentine cookies bought from grocery store Stew Leonard's in Connecticut.
An urgent product recall has since been issued, saying the cookies contained "undeclared" peanuts and eggs.
Her family told the BBC she had been in Connecticut to dance the lead role in a production of Alice in Wonderland, when she consumed the cookies.
Ms Baxendale was "always so careful" about her peanut allergy and she "never left the house without an EpiPen", her family said.
It is understood Ms Baxendale's EpiPen was used, but was tragically unable to save her.
Ms Baxendale, originally from Lancashire, had moved to New York City in 2018 to pursue a dancing career.
An online obituary describes her as "an embodiment of enthusiasm, strength, and beauty".
"Known for her quirky character and boundless love for those around her, she was a source of joy and inspiration to everyone," it says.
"Her presence was a constant reminder to live life to its fullest, a lesson she embraced wholeheartedly and urged others to adopt."
Tributes have been paid by Ms Baxendale's close friends and fellow dancers, including those who met her just fleetingly, but were touched by her "bright" energy and "way of making people feel seen and loved".Kelsey Crawford wrote: "You were a ray of sunshine taken from us too soon. I am so grateful to have been around your joyfully infectious presence, witness and learn from your immense talents, and get to call you my friend.
"I think about you every day - you will be incomprehensibly missed. I love you always, Órla."
Taylor Litz wrote: "Orla you were the light of everyone’s life. The joy and love you presence brought to other was immaculate. Rest in power."Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, from which she graduated in 2018, also paid tribute to her, writing on its website: "A radiant force both on and off the dance floor, she embodied a thirst for life that was truly captivating.
"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 ballet school's statement told how Ms Baxendale "was so careful and always checked the ingredients before eating anything".
The biscuits Ms Baxendale consumed had been sold in Stew Leonard's shops in two Connecticut towns, Danbury and Newington, said the state's Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).
Around 500 packets of the "seasonal" biscuits that were sold between November 6 and December 31 have reportedly been recalled.
Bryan T Cafferelli, commissioner of Connecticut DCP, described Ms Baxendale's death as "a heartbreaking tragedy that should never have happened".
The DCP said consumers with a nut allergy should immediately dispose of the cookies or return them and seek medical attention if necessary.
"The Florentine Cookies were produced by a wholesaler, Cookies United, in Islip, New York, labeled with the Stew Leonard’s brand name, and sold only at the Danbury and Newington stores," said the DCP.
"Out of an abundance of caution, DCP worked with Stew Leonard’s to remove all baked items produced by Cookies United from all Stew Leonard’s Connecticut locations."
DCP investigators are working with state and local public health officials, the Food and Drug Administration and Stew Leonard’s to determine the cause of the error.
Stew Leonard's CEO Stew Leonard Jr alleged the manufacturer of the cookies changes the ingredients "from soy nuts to peanuts", without notifying the company's chief safety officer, the BBC reported.
The New York-based manufacturer, Cookies United, has reportedly challenged that allegation, and says it notified Stew Leonard's of the recipe change in July 2023.
Lawyers for Ms Baxendale's family have said a "preliminary investigation has revealed that Órla's death occurred due to the gross negligence and reckless conduct of the manufacturer and/or sellers", the BBC reported.
No legal action is understood to have been taken against either party at this stage.Dr Manisha Juthani, commissioner at Connecticut Department of Public Health, described Ms Baxendale's death as "an avoidable tragedy", and added that "correct labelling so that people who have food allergies can appropriately protect themselves is of utmost importance".Originally from Lancashire, Ms Baxendale trained and competed in Irish dancing from an early age.
She went on to train at Northern Ballet Academy and Elmhurst Ballet School, before moving to New York in 2018 to train as a scholarship student at The Ailey School.
After graduating, she performed professionally across the UK and US. She joined MOMIX Dance Company in June 2023.
