Family Calls for Clearer Food Labels After Daughter Dies of Nut Allergy: A Reminder of Why First Aid Training Matters
A Markham family is speaking publicly about their devastating loss in hopes of preventing similar tragedies. Their daughter, 30-year-old Joanna Salmingo, died after suffering a severe allergic reaction to a dessert she believed was safe to eat. This story was first reported by CTV News Toronto, and you can read the original article here:
➡️ Family vows to teach others life-saving practices after woman dies of nut allergy
Now, her family is urging food companies to improve allergen labelling and encouraging the public to learn life-saving skills like CPR and epinephrine use.
A Sudden and Severe Allergic Reaction
On August 8, Joanna shared a dessert with her mother at home.
Minutes later, she began experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis — a rapid, life-threatening allergic reaction. Her brother, Joey, recalled that Joanna went upstairs briefly after eating the treat.
Within minutes, she came back down the stairs stumbling, gasping for air, and calling out “Mom, Mom.” She collapsed on the floor, and her pulse became undetectable.
A Mother’s Attempt to Save Her Daughter
Joanna’s mother, a nurse, immediately began CPR.
“I’ve done CPR on my patients five or six times — but this time it was my daughter,” she said. “My maternal instinct told me to stay calm and go into nursing mode so you can save your daughter.”
She continued chest compressions until paramedics arrived. According to Joey, Joanna may have been without oxygen for 17 to 25 minutes, resulting in severe brain damage. She remained in the ICU for 17 days before being declared clinically brain dead.
This tragedy highlights the importance of knowing CPR. To learn these essential skills, you can visit our CPR & AED Training page here:
➡️ https://firstaidcalgary.ca/cpr-courses/
The Mochi Dessert and the Labelling Issue
The dessert came from a Whole Foods Market in Markham. While mochi is traditionally made from glutinous rice, the vegan versions sold at the store contained cashew milk — a fact the family says was not clearly communicated.
Whole Foods used a warning label stating they “cannot guarantee items are free of trace amounts of peanuts or other allergens.” However, Joey pointed out that the first ingredient in the vegan mochi was cashew milk, making the “may contain” sticker inadequate and misleading.
The family has since met with Whole Foods’ global food safety leader to advocate for stricter and more transparent labeling practices.
Launching the F.A.T.E. Initiative
Determined to turn their tragedy into education, the Salmingo family created the Food Allergy Training and Education (F.A.T.E.) Initiative.
This summit aims to:
Raise awareness about the seriousness of food allergies
Provide epinephrine injection training
Offer CPR and life-saving skills workshops
Promote safer labelling, cross-contamination awareness, and improved public food safety
Medical professionals will present research, demonstrations, and training sessions. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support the initiative.
Why First Aid and CPR Training Matter
This heartbreaking case underscores how quickly an allergic reaction can become fatal. When anaphylaxis occurs, every second matters.
First aid and CPR training help you:
Recognize early symptoms
Use an EpiPen correctly
Perform CPR if breathing or pulse stops
Provide support until emergency responders arrive
Being trained doesn’t just build confidence—it saves lives.
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