UPDATE: Food Network star Michael Chiarello died from an allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock, the Napa County Coroner’s Office has cited in its examination of the official cause of death.
The celebrity chef’s anaphylactic shock led to a heart attack, TMZ reported.
Chiarello was taken to a hospital where he was brought back to life, only to later die from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain dysfunction caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow.
Chiarello also had cocaine in his system at the time of his death, but did not die from a drug overdose, the coroner’s office said.
EARLIER: Michael Chiarello, a celebrity chef and a former star of Food Network, has died at the age of 61.
Chiarello died following an acute allergic reaction that caused him to go into anaphylactic shock, Gruppo Chiarello announced.
“We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael,” Chiarello’s family said in a statement shared by EW. “His culinary brilliance, boundless creativity, and unwavering commitment to family were at the core of his being. He brought people together through the joy of shared meals, fostering lasting memories around the table.”
The statement continued, “As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts. His legacy will forever live on in the love he poured into every dish and the passion he instilled in all of us to savor life’s flavors.”
Chiarello started his TV career in 2011 on the PBS show Season by Season. The chef would go on to host two more shows on the network: Michael Chiarello’s Napa and Michael Chiarello’s Napa: Casual Cooking.
In 2003 he would go on to host Easy Entertaining on the Food Network. Chiarello premiered another show in 2004 titled NapaStyle on the Fine Living Network.
As a contestant, Chiarello appeared in Top Chef Masters in 2009 and The Next Iron Chef in 2011.
