Stew Leonard's Recalls Cookies Following Dancer's Death

Northeast regional grocer Stew Leonard’s has recalled its assortment of Florentine Cookies sold in two Connecticut stores (Danbury and Newington) as the product contains peanuts and eggs that were not declared on its packaging.

The move, in conjunction with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Food, Standards and Product Safety Division (DCP) and the Connecticut Department of Public Health, comes after the death of a 25-year old female who consumed the cookies. The woman, Òrla Baxendale of the United Kingdom, was in New York to pursue a career as a dancer. Baxendale had what was termed a severe peanut allergy and died on January 11. 

About 500 packages of the cookies were sold at the two Stew Leonard’s stores from November 6 to December 31, 2023, and were offered for sale under the Stew Leonard’s brand. 

Stew Leonard’s CEO Stew Leonard, Jr., in a video statement issued on the grocer’s website, said the cookies were made by an outside supplier who he claimed changed the recipe from soy nuts to peanuts. The change was not communicated to Stew Leonard’s chief safety officer, he said. 

“We have a very rigorous process that we use, as far as labeling,” said Leonard. “We take labels very seriously, especially peanuts.” 

The supplier, Cookies United of Islip, N.Y., said in a statement from its counsel Walker G. Flanary III, said the company notified Stew Leonard’s of the ingredient change in July of 2023. 

“This product is sold under the Stew Leonard’s brand and repackaged at their facilities,” Flanary said in the statement posted on Cookies United’s website. “The incorrect label was created by, and applied to, their product by Stew Leonard’s.”