A teen died after eating a Rice Krispies treat laced with peanut butter, triggering an allergic reaction.
Natalie Giorgi, 13, spent her entire life watching out for peanut-ridden food, The Sacramento Bee reported.
"She never put any dessert or anything that was questionable into her mouth without consulting someone," Augusta Brothers, a family friend, said.
The teenage redhead was on a family trip at Camp Sacramento during the time of the incident.
During a group gathering, Natalie went into the lodge to find something to eat, the lights were dimmed and there were three types of Rice Krispies treats which had been prepared by the camp cook.
Brothers, who was there during the girl's death, said Natalie spit out the treat as soon as she tasted peanuts. The girl ran to tell her mother what had happened.
Sacramento urologist Dr. Louis Giorgi and his wife Joanne (the girl's father and mother), gave Natalie some Benadryl. The parents watched Natalie, who seemed to be all right.
Twenty minutes later she started to vomit and was having trouble breathing. Her father used three EpiPens within a few minutes to ward off the allergic reaction, but they seemed to have no effect.
An ambulance rushed Natalie to the hospital, but she was pronounced dead around midnight. The El Dorado County Sherriff's office told The Sacramento Bee the teen died from laryngeal edema (swelling of the throat).
Natalie's parents attended a vigil service for her untimely death. They released a statement requesting Natalie's death call attention to deadly food allergies.
"While our hearts are breaking over the tragic loss of our beautiful daughter Natalie, it is our hope that others can learn from this and realize that nut and food allergies are life-threatening," the statement said. "Caution and care for those [afflicted] should always be supported and taken."
"They are devastated," Brothers said. "They did everything they could to save her."
Natalie also had a twin, another sister, and two brothers.
A 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study said three million U.S. children had food-related allergies.
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