Anne Burrell’s Cause of Death Ruled a Suicide

Food|Anne Burrell’s Death Ruled a Suicide

The Food Network star Anne Burrell’s death has been ruled as a suicide, according to the New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The chief medical examiner listed the cause of death as “acute intoxication due to the combined effects of diphenhydramine, ethanol, cetirizine, and amphetamine” — essentially the interaction of alcohol, amphetamine, and diphenhydramine and cetirizine, which are over-the-counter antihistamines.

A spokesman for Ms. Burrell’s husband, Stuart Claxton, said the family declined to comment.

The New York Police Department had been investigating the June 17 death as a suicide. According to an internal document reviewed by The Times, Ms. Burrell, 55, was “discovered in the shower unconscious and unresponsive surrounded by approximately (100) assorted pills.”

Alcohol is a well-known “downer,” so combining it with diphenhydramine and cetirizine, two allergy medications commonly sold as Benadryl and Zyrtec, which cause drowsiness, can have an additive effect and suppress the brain. At high enough doses, this combination can lead to difficulties breathing and interfere with heart rhythm, potentially leading to death.

Amphetamines, however, have the opposite effect as an “upper,” and might mask the sedating symptoms, leading someone to misjudge how intoxicated they are and drink dangerous levels of alcohol.

Ms. Burrell was a beloved chef with a larger-than-life personality. Her death prompted an outpouring of support from fellow Food Network stars and fans of her shows, which included “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef” and “Worst Cooks in America.”

She rose to fame as the sous chef for Mario Batali on “Iron Chef America.” Her no-nonsense, outgoing persona caught the attention of the network, which offered Ms. Burrell her own show, “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef,” premiering in 2008. She remained a constant presence on the network, accumulating legions of fans for her culinary prowess, platinum swoop of hair and ebullient demeanor.

Despite her success at the network, there were recent hints of tension. Namely, the Food Network announced in January that Ms. Burrell would not host the upcoming season of “Worst Cooks,” which premiered that month, with no explanation as to why the change was made. After her death, the network announced that it would air the chef’s already-filmed final season, titled “Worst Cooks in America: Talented and Terrible,” co-hosted by the chef Gabe Bertaccini.

Ms. Burrell’s last public appearance was at an improv show at Second City New York in Brooklyn on June 16, the night before her death. It was her first performance since taking classes at the comedy club.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.

Simar Bajaj contributed reporting.