Alison Pickering Obituary, Death; – A 23-year-old college student from Texas has tragically passed away after her family reported that she inadvertently consumed peanuts during a date at a restaurant.
The family of Alison Pickering shared with CBS News their desire to increase awareness regarding food allergies, emphasizing that she lost her life despite taking precautions and being mindful of her allergy, even while dining at a familiar establishment.
Her parents recounted that she was on a first date just days before her graduation from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, in May 2023. She opted to dine at a restaurant she had previously visited, where she ordered a dish she had enjoyed before: Mahi-Mahi.
“She frequently returned to the same restaurants and ordered the same meals, which was typical for her,” stated Alison’s father, Grover Pickering. However, her parents noted that on this occasion, the dish was altered from her previous experiences, as the restaurant had modified the recipe to include peanut sauce. Alison’s obituary indicated that this change was not mentioned on the menu, and Grover added that the waitstaff were also unaware of the modification.
“She took a few bites and sensed something was amiss,” Grover recounted. “She administered her Epipen. The ambulance arrived, and she was able to walk to it while conversing with the responders, but at some point, her condition deteriorated.”
According to her obituary, Alison suffered from “severe anaphylactic shock.” Anaphylaxis is described as a “rapidly occurring life-threatening allergic reaction,” which can lead to loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, and insufficient blood flow to essential organs, as noted by the UK’s National Health Service and Cleveland Clinic.
This unfortunate incident has motivated her parents to advocate for the Sergio Lopez Food Allergy Awareness Act in Texas, which aims to mandate training for food service personnel on food allergies.
