**Young Boy Dies Following Allergic Reaction at School Amid Milk Mix-Up and Response Delays**
A five-year-old pupil tragically lost his life following an allergic reaction at his primary school, after reportedly coming into contact with traces of cow’s milk protein—a substance to which he was severely allergic. The incident, which unfolded at Barnack Primary School in Stamford, Lincolnshire, has highlighted a series of concerning failures in allergy management and school safety procedures.
Benedict Blythe, described by many as exceptionally gifted and even accepted into Mensa at the age of four, died of food-induced anaphylaxis in December 2021. According to testimony presented during an eight-day inquest held at Peterborough Town Hall, Benedict suffered two bouts of vomiting before collapsing and going into cardiac arrest at school. Despite rapid efforts by teaching staff to administer his adrenaline auto-injector and subsequent attempts at resuscitation, Benedict could not be saved.
The inquest jury delivered their findings on Wednesday, determining it was “probable” that the fatal allergen exposure originated from Benedict’s own oat milk bottle, which may have come into contact with cow’s milk protein during a school break. Jurors specifically cited the delayed use of adrenaline, the risk of cross-contamination or mix-up between different milk types stored at the school, and the lack of clear communication of Benedict’s allergy management plan to all teaching staff as contributing factors.
In addition to these critical lapses, the jury identified Benedict’s recent illness, involvement in physical activity, ongoing asthma, and an unaddressed allergic reaction from two months prior as possible exacerbating elements. Benedict’s mother, Helen Blythe, gave an emotional statement following the inquest’s conclusion, expressing her grief and frustration, “Benedict died in a place where he should have been safe—his school. His death was preventable and followed a cascade of individual, institutional, and systemic failures.”
On the morning of the incident, Benedict had reportedly consumed a McVitie’s gingerbread biscuit—a trusted safe treat—which was independently analysed and determined to be free of milk protein. He had also started his day with oat milk cereal and was given a dairy-free chocolate by his parents. Investigating these items, the coroner instructed the jury not to attribute the allergic episode to the family-supplied foods, basing this direction on the absence of cow’s milk proteins in independent testing.
A key point discussed during proceedings was the storage arrangement at the school. Benedict’s oat milk, provided by his family, was kept in a separate refrigerator in the staff room, alongside lactose-free milk intended for another pupil. His teacher, Jenny Brass, assured the inquest she would not have mistaken Benedict’s oat milk for the lactose-free alternative, which still contained dairy allergens to which Benedict was highly sensitive. Nonetheless, the protocol for handling his drinks was not followed on the day of the incident, as the oat milk was poured in the staff room rather than the classroom—a deviation cited as significant by the jury.
Dr Shuaib Nasser, an asthma and allergy consultant, also provided expert evidence during the inquest, stating that even a “small amount” of cow’s milk protein would have been life-threatening to Benedict, given the severity of his allergy. While his allergy to eggs was described as mild, exposure to dairy posed a critical and fatal risk.
In the aftermath of Benedict’s death, his family established the Benedict Blythe Foundation to campaign for better management of allergies within schools. Collaborating with The Allergy Team and the Independent Schools’ Bursars Association, they launched the schools allergy code, aiming to reduce the risk of similar tragedies in future educational settings.
Adding to calls for systemic change, Benedict’s mother urged the government to introduce ‘Benedict’s Law.’ This prospective legislation would mandate schools to implement robust allergy policies, comprehensive staff training in allergy management and emergency response, and to ensure the availability of spare adrenaline pens within every institution. “Immediate action is necessary so that no more children die needlessly in schools due to an allergy,” Mrs Blythe implored following the inquest, echoing sentiments widely shared by allergy safety advocates across the UK.
With the conclusion of the inquest and renewed public attention on the issue, there is mounting pressure on schools and policymakers alike to address deficiencies in allergy protocol, oversight, and accountability—ensuring every child’s safety is not only promised but prioritised.