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Woman dies after opening pasta sauce
The Guardian ^ | December 23, 2004 | Sam Jones

Posted on 12/22/2004 8:48:11 PM PST by ijcr

A woman with a severe allergy to tomatoes died after opening a tin of spaghetti bolognese, it emerged yesterday.

Raya French, 37, a part-time receptionist from Tankerton in Kent, was preparing dinner for her four children two weeks ago when the tomato sauce in the can sent her into anaphylactic shock.

She was taken to hospital, but never regained consciousness. She was allowed to die four days later after her family decided that she had no chance of survival.

Mrs French developed an allergy to raw tomatoes three years ago, and would come out in hives and suffer asthma attacks. Recently the reactions had become more severe.

Her husband, Stephen, said yesterday that despite what had happened, his wife would still want their children - Alexandra, 15, Tom, 10, Maddison, six, and Louis, four - to enjoy the festive season.

"It's been a very difficult time, but we're working towards Christmas," he said.

Canon Patrick Sales, the vicar of All Saints church in nearby Whitstable, said that more than 300 people had attended her funeral last Wednesday.

"She was a governor at the local school where her children were pupils.

"She knew a lot of people in the community and there was a big response to her death."

Mr Sales said of Mrs French's husband and children: "They have been very brave and positive about all this."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: allergy; death; killertomatoes; tomatoes; uk
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To: geopyg

I've been allergic to latex for years. Each year, it takes less and less exposure to cause a reaction...I ended up in the ER for the last one.

Incidently, people allergic to latex are also extremely likely to be allergic to avocadoes, bananas, and kiwis. Guess how I learned that?

And yes, my throat closes up, my lips and tongue swell, and I cough uncontrollably. I carry an epipen everywhere.


21 posted on 12/22/2004 9:09:49 PM PST by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
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To: Izzy Dunne

Haha... Color me retarded! My mistake. Living in such close proximity to so many liberals has diminished my literal comprehension and reading ability... I was trying to FEEEEEEL the article. ;)


22 posted on 12/22/2004 9:10:16 PM PST by BROKKANIC
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To: ijcr

They are sometimes known as "Pizen apples" up in the hills. (poison apples)


23 posted on 12/22/2004 9:10:49 PM PST by Arkinsaw
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To: tiki

Your husband is extremely likely to be allergic to latex, avocados, and kiwi fruit, too.

If his doctor doesn't know, it would be a good idea to tell him.


24 posted on 12/22/2004 9:11:23 PM PST by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
What was she doing anywhere near a tomato product? Did she forget how to read?

She probably had done it before with no problem, but those exposures add up, and suddenly they're lethal. It can happen.

25 posted on 12/22/2004 9:13:06 PM PST by Judith Anne (Thank you St. Jude for favors granted.)
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To: TheMom

Ya may wanna ban eeeeek from the kitchen.......:o)


26 posted on 12/22/2004 9:13:33 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
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To: Darkwolf377
For some reason I expected that to read "would still want their children to enjoy tomatoes."

I was thinking that as I read that as well.

27 posted on 12/22/2004 9:15:34 PM PST by Blue Highway
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To: geopyg

sure makes you wonder what lies in wait......

yeah, kinda. i figure Gods got my address and can come a knockin when he feels i have been a bafoon long enough in this world.

i always did say, "if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." }:-D


28 posted on 12/22/2004 9:16:31 PM PST by 537cant be wrong (no kittie! thats my pot pie!)
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To: Darkwolf377

That is exactly what I was thinking... sad but funny...


29 posted on 12/22/2004 9:17:02 PM PST by todd1
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To: ijcr

I wonder how long it will be before the family decides to sue the makers of the product for failure to place a warning on the can. I will be surprised if the family accepts that the woman acted completely irresponsibly.


30 posted on 12/22/2004 9:17:16 PM PST by SALChamps03
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To: Petronski
Death...it's in there.

ROFL! Have I told you lately that I just adore you, Petronski? :o)

31 posted on 12/22/2004 9:18:18 PM PST by arasina (So there.)
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To: twinzmommy

I had a bad reaction to onions a couple years ago...found out I was HIGHLY allergic to them. It sapped my strength for a couple weeks. I had to crawl up the stairs to my job, and spent my entire shift sitting.

I hope to NEVER go through that again!!


32 posted on 12/22/2004 9:18:31 PM PST by trussell (I Never Frown, even when I am sad,because I never know who is falling in love with my Smile!!!)
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To: ijcr

Probably a French conspiracy. Chef Boy-Ar-Dee.


33 posted on 12/22/2004 9:18:38 PM PST by GVnana (If I had a Buckhead moment would I know it?)
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To: arasina

Let me put my pants on first. ;O)


34 posted on 12/22/2004 9:19:10 PM PST by Petronski (A suitable case for treatment.)
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To: ijcr

I wonder if the smell did her in, or did she get some on her skin, or did she eat them???


35 posted on 12/22/2004 9:19:13 PM PST by Peace Is Coming
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To: Blue Highway

So did she die from Tomato fumes? It says she died from opening the can when preparing the family's diner. I thought you actually had to ingest something for their to be an allergic reaction to food, or at least some kind of skin contact. Was she bathing in tomato sauce?


36 posted on 12/22/2004 9:19:19 PM PST by Blue Highway
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To: Judith Anne

That is very interesting. I don't much care for bananas and will hardly ever eat em (twice a year is a lot). The last couple times I felt like I was choking on em and tossed them without finishing. It never occurred to me I might have an allergy. Hmm.. I know latex makes me break out something awful.


37 posted on 12/22/2004 9:19:32 PM PST by AntiGuv (™)
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To: Peace Is Coming

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.


38 posted on 12/22/2004 9:19:39 PM PST by bonfire
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To: Judith Anne

Don't get me any where near oil based lacquer paints...or certain perfumes. My son really likes this one scent and it drives him crazy that I can smell it when I am downstairs and he is upstairs.

But I have a really strong reaction to it. I immediately get asthma symptoms and start to cough my head off. I never go to church without my inhaler, because I never know when someone will be wearing something I can't tolerate.

Two weeks ago, I forgot my inhaler, and ended up having to leave about half way through sevices. Spent the first 10 minutes coughing up all the junk my lungs were producing.

A lot of modern scents contain chemicals that can really cause people to react.

And I seem to be one of them!


39 posted on 12/22/2004 9:20:30 PM PST by Knitting A Conundrum (Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly With God Micah 6:8)
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To: Blue Highway
So did she die from Tomato fumes?

Sounds like it. Good Lord, talk about being sensitive to something! . . . A molecular dose did her in. Scary.

40 posted on 12/22/2004 9:23:29 PM PST by LibWhacker
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