Chef Michael Chiarello Died from Anaphylactic Shock but ‘Doctors Don’t Know’ What Caused the Fatal Allergic Reaction

Michael Chiarello died in Napa, Calif. on Saturday, according to a statement from his family

Chef Michael Chiarello died following an acute allergic reaction which led to anaphylactic shock, but the cause of the allergic reaction is unknown.

"The doctors don’t know what caused the allergic reaction and neither does the family," a representative for Gruppo Chiarello tells PEOPLE. "They may never know."

Chiarello, a former Food Network star, died at the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Calif. on Saturday after being treated for the allergic reaction for a week, according to statement shared with PEOPLE. He was 61.

Dr. Inderpal Randhawa, CEO and founder of the Food Allergy Institute, tells PEOPLE that a person being unaware of a life-threatening allergy later in life "is rare but it does happen."

"Two-thirds of adults with food anaphylaxis develop the disease after 18 years of age," says Randhawa, who did not work as Chiarello's doctor.

Dr. Randhawa gave an example of an older person developing an allergy that initially resulted in "atypical symptoms such as abdominal discomfort or skin rash." If the person modified their diet but "over the next year, they continued to cook shellfish where there are allergens in the air, the air-based allergens will increase sensitization of their immune system and increase their risk of anaphylaxis," says Dr. Randhawa. "The next time they consume shellfish, it can result in a severe and rapid reaction."

The medical director of pediatric pulmonology, clinical immunology and allergy at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach, Calif. also noted that "several factors make allergic reactions worse" including autoimmune diseases, blood pressure medications and erectile dysfunction medications.

"Having several factors combined at once during a small food allergen exposure can result in a life-threatening event," said Dr. Randhawa.

An autopsy report could "identify the general groups of foods to which he might have had a reaction," Dr. Randhawa. But a representative for Chiarello did not clarify to PEOPLE if an autopsy report is being conducted.

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After Chiarello's death, his family said in a statement: “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."

"As we navigate this profound loss, we hold dear the moments we cherished with him, both in his kitchens and in our hearts," added the Chiarello family, who were by his side at the time of his death. "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.”

The California native was born in the Northern California city of Red Bluff in 1962. At 25 years old in 1987, he opened his first restaurant Tra Vigne, in Napa Valley, per Business Wire. The opening of Tra Vigne was followed the his additional Napa Valley eateries, Bottega, Ottimo, and Coqueta — which has a location in Napa Valley as well as San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

In addition to opening several restaurants, the chef created Chiarello Family Vineyard and joined the wine industry in 1999, according to his website. At the start of the millennium, he then established a retail line of artisanal foods, kitchenware, and home products, titled NapaStyle.

While the chef created several restaurants and the Chiarello Family Vineyard, he was known for hosting several shows that aired on PBS, Fine Living and Cooking Channel, and his Food Network series, Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello, which ran for 10 seasons and earned Chiarello an Emmy award. He also appeared as a guest chef on the Today show and The View, per his website.

Throughout his career he was awarded Chef of the Year by Food & Wine in 1985, Culinary Institute of America in 1995, and Esquire in 2013.

Chiarello's funeral arrangements will be private, and in lieu of flowers, his family is asking donations instead be made to Meals on Wheels.

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