SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain dysfunction caused by a lack of oxygen and blood flow.

Celebrity chef Michael Chiarello’s official cause of death has been revealed by the Napa County Coroner’s Office to be an anaphylactic shock that led to a heart attack.

The Food Network icon was 61 when he died surrounded by family and friends at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California, on October 7, 2023.

Although it is unclear whether or not his fatal allergic reaction was food-related, Chiarello also had cocaine in his system at the time of his death.

But the Napa County Coroner’s Office reportedly told TMZ that he did not die from a drug overdose.

What is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy?

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in adults is more often a result of cardiac arrest or cerebrovascular disease, with secondary hypoxemia/hypoperfusion, according to Radiopaedia.org

Hypoxic-ischemic cerebral injury can occur at any age, and it is also one of the most serious birth complications affecting full-term infants, occurring in 1.5 to 2.5 per 1000 live births, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Per Radiopaedia.org, the lack of sufficient blood flow, in conjunction with decreased oxygen content in the blood (perinatal asphyxia), leads to loss of normal cerebral autoregulation and diffuse brain injury, with the exact nature of the injury depending on the severity of hypotension and the degree of brain maturation.

A source from the Napa County Coroner’s Office revealed to TMZ that Chiarello was taken to the hospital last month where he was brought back to life, only to later die from hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.

Initially, he encountered an acute allergic reaction that led to an anaphylactic shock, which then triggered a heart attack that has been named the official cause of death for the 61-year-old TV personality.

An anaphylactic shock results from a severe allergic reaction which causes blood pressure to drop and narrows your airway, making breathing difficult, per Healthline. Without immediate treatment, it is deemed to be life-threatening.

The patient experiencing the shock would require a shot of epinephrine (adrenaline) as soon as possible, which can reverse the symptoms within minutes.

Gruppo Chiarello, chef Michael Chiarello’s company, announced Chiarello died following an acute allergic reaction that caused him to go into anaphylactic shock.

He hosted shows on both the Food Network and PBS, and appeared on programs including ‘Top Chef', ‘Season by Season', ‘Top Chef Masters', ‘Michael Chiarello’s Napa', ‘Michael Chiarello’s Napa: Casual Cooking', and ‘The Next Iron Chef'.

He also premiered ‘NapaStyle’ on the Fine Living Network in 2004.

In 2005, the restaurateur won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Service Show Host for the Food Network’s ‘Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello'.

Michael Chiarello’s family remembers culinary maestro

Chiarello’s family said in a statement shared by EW, “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.”

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.”

Michael Chiarello was born in Red Bluff, California in 1962.

His passion for culinary arts started in his childhood as he explored the traditions of his Southern Italian heritage.

He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1982 and received the honor of being named 1985's ‘Chef of the Year’ by Food & Wine Magazine.

In the same decade, he returned to his home state of California and settled in the Napa Valley, where he opened Tra Vigne, his critically acclaimed restaurant.

The Food Network star later opened ‘Bottega’, ‘Coqueta’, and ‘Ottimo’ with his partners at Gruppo Chiarello.