A bereaved family is speaking out to raise awareness after their 23-year-old daughter died from consuming tainted food at a restaurant she frequented.
Alison Pickering, who had known about her severe peanut allergy since preschool, was a vigilant Texas college student at 23. She meticulously selected restaurants and dishes, confident in their safety based on her past experiences.
In 2023, just days before her graduation from Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Alison dined at one of her regular spots, ordering a familiar dish without realizing it had been altered.
Her parents, Joy and Grover Pickering, disclosed that Alison was on a date when the allergic reaction occurred in May 2023.
Grover recounted to CBS News that Alison had ordered her usual dish, a Mahi-Mahi, but after just ‘a few bites’, she sensed something was amiss.
Grover shared, “She did her Epipen. The ambulance came. She actually walked to the ambulance talking to them, but somewhere along the way things went downhill.”
A Texas legislation, the Sergio Lopez Food Allergy Awareness Act, was enacted last year to honor Sergio Alexander Lopez, who died after unknowingly consuming peanut butter at a restaurant, despite checking with staff about its safety.
The Pickerings aim to collaborate with the Texas Restaurant Association to enhance this bill. They seek to improve communication between eateries and patrons and to offer comprehensive training for employees.
The family is determined to establish guidelines that ensure better communication regarding ingredients between restaurants and their customers.
Joy expressed: “It’s tragic. It doesn’t need to happen to anyone else.”
Allergic Living has commented on Alison’s death, supporting her family’s mission.
The publication stated: “At Allergic Living, we know our followers join us in sending condolences to the Pickerings, who are grieving the loss of their beloved daughter.
“I know it’s always difficult for our community to hear of food allergy tragedies. While allergy deaths aren’t common, they still hit very close to home.
“We support the Pickerings’ efforts for further training and ingredient transparency in restaurants, in their state. We hope greater efforts are made right across North America.”
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