A family outing turned tragic when an 8-year-old Canadian boy suffered a fatal allergic reaction after eating a frozen treat that he thought was vegan. Liam Gartland of Kingston, Ontario, who had food allergies to dairy, egg and peanut, suffered the severe reaction on May 18, 2026. He died two days later in the hospital.
The young boy started to experience anaphylaxis within five minutes of eating his treat at the local Dairy Queen, his mom Julia Gartland told the Kingston Whig-Standard newspaper. She had ordered her son a non-dairy Dilly Bar, which he had safely eaten in the past.
The staff member also repeated that the bar was vegan when she handed the packaged treat to her, Liam’s mom says. So, “we didn’t think twice” and he started eating. However, once Liam began having an allergic reaction, his mom looked at the bar’s package and saw that it contained dairy, the newspaper says.
The vegan Dilly Bar is a coconut cream-based dairy-free, frozen treat. In addition, while Dairy Queen restaurants are not nut-free, the Dilly Bars are produced on a peanut-free line, the website states. Those bars are sold individually and packaged in plastic wrap.
In an email to the Whig-Standard, Dairy Queen headquarters said they are deeply saddened upon learning of this tragic news, and their hearts are with the family and loved ones during this difficult time. They added, “we are in contact with the store operator, who is cooperating fully with authorities as they continue their investigation. Out of respect for the family and the process, we won’t have any further comment at this time.”
Liam’s Fatal Reaction
The allergic reaction progressed quickly for Liam, whose younger sister Evangeline was also with the boy and his mom.
Gartland told the Whig-Standard that she drove to get her son’s epinephrine auto-injector and called 911. Paramedics from two ambulances gave emergency care to the young boy, who was struggling to breathe, and then went into cardiac arrest, Gartland told the newspaper. She spoke of him suffering brain damage, which would have related to oxygen deprivation.
Initially taken to Kingston General Hospital, Liam was then airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), which is known for its pediatric trauma center. Kingston General staff discovered that Liam who had asthma, also had contracted COVID-19, which further strained his lungs, his mom told the Whig-Standard.
After 48 hours without brain activity, and not breathing on his own, Liam’s family had to say goodbye, according to a GoFundMe page set up by the Gartland’s friend Kristina Richmond.
Boy with the ‘Kindest Heart’
In addition to his mom Julia and sister, Liam is survived by his dad Billy, along with aunts, uncles, cousins, and other extended family, according to his obituary.
His family shares in the obituary that his parents’ decision to donate his organs was in line with their son’s values. “He had the kindest heart and always wanted to help others,” they wrote. For example, they noted that the young boy helped his mom hand out lunches to people experiencing homelessness.
A celebration of life was held on May 31 at a funeral home in Kingston. “While his family’s hearts are shattered, there is comfort in knowing that Liam’s love, kindness, and generosity will continue through these people,” the obituary states.
“His legacy will live on not only in our memories, but in the lives he helped to save. His family is incredibly proud of their boy.”
Takeaway Reminders
Reflecting on the terrible loss of Liam, Allergic Living’s editors extend our sympathy to his grieving family. We also think it’s important to remind the food allergy community:
– Always have easy access to two doses of epinephrine. Check before you go out that you have it.
– Also, both servers and families with allergies need to double-check ingredients when feeding someone with allergies. Mistakes happen, and can turn into anaphylaxis, sometimes with tragic results.
Related Reading:
https://www.allergicliving.com/2025/10/17/after-sons-swift-nut-allergy-tragedy-mom-urges-wide-epi-access/
https://www.allergicliving.com/2025/12/17/allergists-view-talking-with-teens-about-carrying-epinephrine/
