My Mad Fat Diary star Ciara Baxendale pays tribute to 'radiant' ballet dancer sister, 25, who died from anaphylactic shock after eating 'mislabelled' cookies in the US as she says: 'Everything about her was magical'

Órla Baxendale died after consuming Vanilla Florentine cookiesTalented dancer had moved to New York from England to pursue her dreamOrla's heartbroken family are 'devastated' as sisters Ciara and Niamh tribute

Actress Ciara Baxendale, star of E4 series My Mad Fat Diary, has paid tribute to her sister who died after eating an allegedly incorrectly labelled cookie which contained peanuts.

Professional dancer Órla Baxendale, 25, who had moved to America to pursue her dream career, went into anaphylactic shock after suffering a severe allergic reaction to the cookie.

Ciara, 28, described her younger sister as ‘radiant’ and ‘a dreamer’.

Writing on her official Instagram page, she said: ‘I am so honoured to say that this girl is my sister, she was just so cherished by everyone.

‘She aimed for the stars and truly deeply lived for her dreams every day of her life. I’ll never stop talking about my Órla.

‘I felt like she was my twin, my little sidekick. She used to always joke and say that she was my mini me, but there is no one like Órla. She was so unique and special, there never was anyone like her and there never will be.

‘I’ll will never ever, as long as I am on this earth, stop talking about how radiant, how beautiful, how kind, how cool, how hilarious, how witty, how vibrant she was. She had a golden touch.

‘Everything about her was magical, she was just so otherworldly. She looks just like an angel, and I just cannot believe that she has gone. I’ll carry her with me always, in my heart, and by my side. If you met her, you are lucky, she was just such a warm and golden soul, she’s left a trail of light behind her and she will never be forgotten.’

Baxendale went into anaphylactic shock on January 11 after consuming the Vanilla Florentine cookies which were subsequently recalled for an allergen, her family’s lawyers said

Actress Ciara Baxendale (above), star of E4 series My Mad Fat Diary, has paid tribute to her sister Orla who died after eating an incorrectly labelled cookie which contained peanuts

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

Ciara said it was ‘just incomprehensible’ that allergies can take lives and urged people to educate themselves about anaphylaxis, how to use epipens and how to spot the warning signs for severe allergic reactions.

She added: ‘I wouldn’t want this to happen to any other family, the pain we feel for her absence we will never have the words for. I love her with my whole entire heart and her presence in our lives will be missed forever. I really hope our little Órla is somewhere dancing amongst the stars.’

The heartfelt tribute was accompanied by several family album photographs showing the sisters posing happily together as children and adults.

Órla died on January 11 after buying vanilla Florentine cookies that were made with peanuts – despite being labelled as containing ‘soy nuts’ – from a grocery store in New Milford, Connecticut.

She was getting ready to perform as Alice in a dance company’s adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.

Orla attended the private £4,550-a-term Westholme School in Lancashire and trained at The Northern Ballet in Leeds and Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham before being awarded a scholarship to prestigious New York university, The Ailey School.

She graduated in May 2021 and went on to be a dancer and model in New York Fashion Week, featuring in Vogue Magazine’s September 2021 edition, and was due to tour the world with dance company MOMIX, beginning with the USA before moving on to South America, Europe and Asia.

Órla’s parents, Simon and Angela Baxendale, were too upset to comment this evening at their £450,000 home in Helmshore, Lancashire.

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

Niamh Baxendale (pictured), the sister of a British ballerina who died after eating an allegedly incorrectly labelled cookie containing peanuts in America has paid tribute to ‘my tiny dancer’

But in a prepared statement, they said: ‘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.

‘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.

‘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

‘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.’

Orla’s other sister, Niamh, a Cambridge graduate, paid tribute to ‘my tiny dancer’.

Writing on her Instagram page, she wrote: ‘Órla was so careful and always checked the ingredients before eating anything – mislabelling food can kill.

They family added that it is ‘incomprehensible’ that allergies continue take lives and urged people to ‘educate yourselves and those around you about anaphylaxis, how to use EpiPens and the early warning signs for severe allergic reactions.’

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

Órla Baxendale, 25, died  from a severe allergic reaction after eating cookies bought from a Stew Leonard’s store which allegedly did not disclose they contained peanuts

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

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

‘We are all devastated by the loss of our beautiful and talented Órla who was taken from us far too soon,’ Baxendale’s sister Niamh wrote in a statement.

‘It’s incomprehensible that allergies can still take lives in 2024. Please read about anaphylaxis as you may help to save someone’s life one day.

‘Orla Baxendale’s Facebook page will be memorialized so please do share messages on here for Órla as we love to read them.

If you would like to please consider donating to Allergy UK in Órla’s memory.

‘Órla was so careful and always checked the ingredients before eating anything – mislabelling food can kill.’

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 to Channel 3 news that Cookies United had changed the recipe from soy nuts to peanuts without notifying the company.

The cookies were then allegedly repackaged and relabelled 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.

‘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 which was seen by Channel 3 news.

‘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 get rid 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.’