A Vancouver Island family is speaking out after losing their 14-year-old son, Malakai Troy Flores, who suffered a fatal anaphylactic reaction after eating a snack from a Booster Juice location in Courtenay late last month.
The family says the product was labelled, but the ingredient list, which included cashews, was printed in such small text that it was easy to miss.
Malakai, a goaltender for the North Island Eagles U15 team, had just finished a game at the Comox Valley Sports Centre when the tragedy unfolded on September 28th.
His mother, Jerika McArter, says her son had gone with his uncle to grab a quick bite between errands when he purchased a “cookie ball” from Booster Juice.
“He took a couple bites and said, ‘This tastes weird,’” McArter told Victoria Buzz.
“He ran back to check the label, and that’s when he saw cashews listed as the first ingredient. It was written in tiny print under the name label. He ran to the bathroom to vomit, but it was already too late.”
Within minutes, Malakai began struggling to breathe. His uncle, Andrew, called 911 and began driving toward the nearest hospital which was about 13 minutes away.
As they raced down the road, Malakai’s condition worsened.
“He was conscious and telling me it was getting harder to breathe,” McArter said.
“We pulled into a parking lot to meet the ambulance, but by then, he was unconscious. They tried CPR and lifesaving measures, but my boy was gone.”
McArter said her son’s EpiPen had been left at home, something that still haunts her.
“He was usually so careful and aware of what he ate,” she said. “In his 14 years, he’d only ever had a small reaction once before, when he ate something with a little bit of pesto. He was such a picky eater. I wish we had ten EpiPens — one in every vehicle and bag.”
The family says Booster Juice has not yet reached out to them since the incident, and they are unaware of any formal investigation.
“The label was small and hard to read — a hungry kid doesn’t always notice the ingredients,” she said. “There needs to be a nut symbol or colour-coded label so it stands out. Everyone carries Narcan these days — why don’t we all carry EpiPens too?”
Malakai was known throughout his community of Port Hardy as a bright, adventurous spirit and a giver with a big heart and a contagious smile.
“He loved hockey, especially being in net,” McArter said. “He played soccer, golfed, fished, went dirt biking — he wasn’t afraid of anything. He loved making people laugh, loved his teammates, and was always the first to help others.”
The teen had been playing hockey since kindergarten and was in his third year with the rep team. His teammates and coaches have been devastated by his loss, McArter says, but the hockey community across Vancouver Island has rallied in support.
“The two arenas on the North Island have put the number 31 in front of their home creases,” she said. “Teams across the Island have done tributes, and people have been bringing food, sending prayers, donating — the love has been overwhelming. I’m so grateful for the support.”
A GoFundMe campaign has raised thousands to help the family with funeral expenses and allow them time to grieve without financial strain.
As she tries to make sense of the unthinkable, McArter hopes her son’s story sparks change in labelling, awareness, and preparedness.
“Double-check every label, and remind your kids to carry their EpiPens,” she said. “Just like that, your life can flip upside down. Parents, hold your babies tighter — you never know when it will be the last hug or the last adventure.”
Despite multiple attempts to contact Booster Juice over the past week, no response was received in time for publication.
A funeral service for Malakai was held on October 7th. The family has launched a petition called Malakai’s Bill to ensure widespread access to EpiPens during emergencies.
