Tragic toddler dies aged 21 months after 'cow's milk diet' causes severe anaemia

Tragic toddler dies aged 21 months after 'cow's milk diet' causes severe anaemia Anaya Khaanan, aged 21 months, died from severe anaemia after being fed a predominantly cow's milk-based diet when she failed to eat enough solid food to provide necessary levels of iron A toddler who was fed a predominantly cow's milk-based diet after struggling to eat enough solid food died from severe anaemia, an inquest has heard. Anaya Khaanan was 21 months old when she died at the Royal Blackburn Hospital on July 22 last year. The daughter of Mian Abdul Khaanan and Aneela Ikram, from Burnley, Lancashire, had developed anaemia after she had been "offered solid foods but was unable to consume sufficient oral intake to meet her iron needs". On the evening of July 21, Anaya's condition deteriorated and she was taken to hospital. Doctors decided she required a blood transfusion, but she died before it could be carried out. An inquest into Anaya's death was held at Preston Coroners' Court before Area Coroner Kate Bisset on Tuesday. It heard that Anaya had been born in Pakistan. The cause of death was recorded as severe anaemia caused by a milk-based diet, Lancashire Live reports. The coroner returned a narrative conclusion and said: "Anaya Khaanan died on the 22nd July 2025 at the Royal Blackburn Hospital as a consequence of severe anaemia caused by a predominantly milk-based diet. "Anaya was offered solid foods but was unable to consume sufficient oral intake to meet her iron needs, particularly when she became tired as her anaemia progressed. "Anaya had been seen by the GP who ordered blood tests to take place and she was also seen at the urgent treatment centre on the 10th July 2025. At that time, a diagnosis was made of urinary tract infection and no blood tests were undertaken as they were not clinically indicated by her presentation on that date. "Anaya became more unwell overnight between the 21st and 22nd July 2025 and was taken to hospital where plans was instigated for a blood transfusion to take place. Anaya deteriorated and died prior to the transfusion taking place."