10-year-old Melbourne resident Ronak Warty died after he consumed a coconut drink in December 2013.
On December 13th 2013, Warty family in Burwood had finished their dinner when Ronak had a coconut drink from a can bought from a store.
Minutes later, he couldn’t breath and started vomiting.
An ambulance was called in and paramedics treated him before he was rushed to Monash Medical Centre in Clayton.
Over the next few days, Ronak suffered complete loss of brain function and eventually his life support was withdrawn a week later on 20th December 2013.
Doctors ascribed the cause of Ronak’s death to complications of anaphylaxis.
Ronak was allergic to nuts and dairy. His family took utmost precautions about his dietary intake and Ronak too was aware about his allergies.
Coroner Audrey Jamieson heard the can of Green Time Natural Coconut Drink imported from Taiwan contained an undeclared milk ingredient.
The coroner heard Green Time Natural Coconut Drink contained an undeclared milk ingredient and Ronak was allergic to nuts and dairy. Source: Supplied
Ronak's father wrote a letter of concern to the court dated November 2014, where he stated that the ingredients were completely misdeclared. He said that in effect, his son was killed by a corporate entity.
Since Ronak’s death, Ronak’s mother Kalpana and brother Ritesh have launched legal action against the company which imports the drink to Australia. They claim the company’s negligence and failure to take reasonable care and adhere to consumer laws caused them injury and loss and seek unspecified damages.
Source: Coroner's Report
The company that imports this drink was also prosecuted by NSW Food Authority last year and after pleading guilty to three labelling offences, was convicted and fined $18,000, Herald Sun reported.
Ronak’s death will now see new laws being introduced in Victoria where it will be mandatory to report of potentially deadly anaphylactic reactions.
Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy Source: AAP
“I think it is alarming that foodstuffs are being imported where the public are being completely misled about the contents,” Ms Jamieson said.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy told the Coroner she will introduce new laws to make it mandatory for hospitals to report all cases of children presenting at hospitals suffering anaphylaxis to the Department of Health and Human Services’ food safety unit so the cause can be identified.
