Florentine cookies sold at a Connecticut grocery chain were recalled this week after a woman died from eating a mislabeled treat that contained peanuts.

Orla Baxendale, 25, was a Brit living in New York City to train as a professional dancer. She went into shock after eating one of the cookies, made by Cookies United and sold at one of two Connecticut Stew Leonard’s locations, at a gathering on Jan. 11 and died that day.

“Preliminary investigation has revealed that Orla’s death occurred due to 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 law firm representing her and her family said in a release.

The store recalled the cookies Tuesday.

On Thursday, a second notice was put out by Stew Leonard’s and Connecticut officials, noting that egg allergens contained in the cookie were not disclosed on the label.

As a precaution, Connecticut officials and the grocery chain removed all baked goods made by Cookies United from Stew Leonard’s stores.

“It was a holiday cookie and a one-shot deal, but we bought it from an outside supplier and unfortunately the supplier changed the recipe and started going from soy nuts to peanuts, and our chief safety officer here at Stew Leonard’s was never notified,” company President Stew Leonard Jr. said in a video statement.

Cookies United disputes the claim that the grocery store was not notified.

“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 labeled 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,” Cookies United said in a statement.

Connecticut officials are working with the grocery chain, New York and New Jersey officials, and the Food and Drug Administration to determine the exact cause of the labeling error.

“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that should never have happened,” Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli said in a statement.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.