Chef Michael Chiarello's cause of death has been officially confirmed.
The celebrity chef, 61, died on 6 October at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California.
Chiarello was a chef and restauranteur for 25 years and was known and loved for his appearances on shows on PBS, Food Network, and Cooking Channel.
Advert
He also presented his own award-winning show, Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello.
His company, Gruppo Chiarello, confirmed his passing in a statement.
And now a coroner has confirmed his cause of death.
Advert
Henry Wofford, a spokesperson for Napa County Coroner's Office, announced the results of the autopsy on Wednesday (22 November), which also contains examinations by a pathologist including toxicology tests.
He confirmed that the cause of death recorded by the coroner was an allergic reaction, leading to anaphylactic shock and a heart attack, the Napa Valley Register reports.
Chiarello had also been in hospital for six days prior to his death.
According to a representative from Gruppo Chiarello, doctors 'didn't know' what had caused the allergic reaction and 'neither does the family'.
Advert
And while the pathologist was able to confirm that an allergic reaction was what lead to Chiarello passing away, they were still not able to determine precisely what it was that caused the reaction.
The report from the coroner also said that cocaine was also found in Chiarello's system but was not a direct cause of death.
Wofford then went on to detail that Chiarello had a number of co-morbidities at the time of his death, the outlet reports.
Advert
These included high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, hypothyroidism, and sleep apnea.
After his passing, his family said in a statement to Variety: "We deeply mourn the loss of our beloved patriarch Michael.
"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.
Advert
"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."
Former San Francisco Chronicle Restaurant Critic and Editor, Michael Bauer also tweeted tribute to the chef, saying: "I just learned that chef, Michael Chiarello died last night from an acute allergic reaction that led to anaphylactic shock.
"He was a California pioneer in many things and his restaurants: Bottega and Coqueta continue to celebrate his legacy."
Chiarello's family have asked for donations to be made to Meals on Wheels instead of towards flowers.
Kit Roberts