[Trigger Warning]
A tragic incident in Kingston, Ontario, has left a family grieving after eight-year-old Liam Gartland died from an anaphylactic reaction. The reaction occurred after his mother alleged he was mistakenly given a regular Dilly Bar instead of the vegan version she had specifically ordered at a local Dairy Queen. His mother, Julia Gartland, is now sharing Liam’s story to raise awareness of the potentially deadly consequences of food allergies.
The tragedy unfolded on a Monday night when Gartland took her children to the fast-food restaurant for a treat. Because her son, Liam, had severe, life-threatening allergies to dairy, eggs, and peanuts, she ordered a vegan Dilly Bar. According to Dairy Queen’s website, the frozen dessert is marketed as dairy-free, gluten-free, and plant-based for customers with dietary restrictions.
Gartland said an employee handed over the order and assured her it was the vegan version. Trusting the employee’s assurance, she passed the treat directly to Liam without checking the packaging. “I didn’t think to check; I just handed it to him,” she recalled. “About five minutes later, he told me he thought it was dairy, and we looked at the package, and it was.”
Realizing something was terribly wrong, Gartland rushed to retrieve an epinephrine auto-injector and called 911. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but Liam’s condition was rapidly deteriorating. “They got there, but he was already struggling to breathe,” she said. “By the time we got to the Kingston Centre, he had flatlined.” Paramedics from a second ambulance continued chest compressions as Liam remained in cardiac arrest for 55 minutes, resulting in catastrophic brain damage.
Liam was initially treated at Kingston General Hospital, where doctors warned the family that his chances of survival were uncertain. “They told us at [the hospital] to start saying our goodbyes, as they weren’t sure he would make the flight to CHEO [Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario],” Gartland said. Although he survived the transfer, physicians later discovered he had a collapsed lung and had tested positive for COVID-19. Gartland said the COVID infection and Liam’s asthma left his lungs severely inflamed, further complicating his recovery.
After 48 hours with no detectable brain activity, the family made the heartbreaking decision to remove Liam from life support and donate his organs. Gartland wrote on a GoFundMe page that the decision reflected her son’s compassionate nature. “This decision feels so deeply aligned with who Liam was,” she said. “He had the kindest heart and always wanted to help others.”
In a remarkable final gift, Liam’s organs saved several children’s lives. Although doctors initially feared his heart was too weak for transplantation, it unexpectedly began beating strongly in the operating room and was ultimately donated to a three-year-old girl. “While our hearts are shattered, there is comfort in knowing that Liam’s love, kindness, and generosity will continue through these children,” Gartland wrote.
The Office of the Coroner confirmed that an investigation into Liam’s death is underway. Dairy Queen did not directly address questions regarding its allergy procedures or the alleged order mix-up but issued a statement expressing sympathy for the family. “Our hearts are with the family and loved ones during this difficult time,” a company spokesperson said, adding that the company is in contact with the local franchise owner and is cooperating with authorities as the investigation continues.
We send our sincere condolences to Ms. Gartland and her family for the unspeakable tragedy they are coping with. We hope they find some measure of solace in the outpouring of support from the community. We thank her for sharing Liam’s story as a warning to other families about the dangers of food allergies.
As we do when reporting such tragedies, we provide strategies that others in the food allergy community can use to avoid similar crises.
First, everyone who has been prescribed epinephrine should always have two doses readily available and administer the first when anaphylaxis is suspected. Epinephrine is the only drug that can halt and reverse the progression of anaphylaxis, a serious and life-threatening allergic reaction, but it must be administered promptly to achieve the best outcome.
We urge you to avoid eateries where your allergens of concern are processed, as cross-contact is always a concern. Discuss your food allergies with management, and if you are not fully confident they can safely accommodate you, leave.
Lastly, always check the label before consuming a packaged food, even if you have safely consumed it many times before. Manufacturers frequently change their ingredients and processes, and packaging for safe and unsafe products can often look similar.
