What is asphyxia from food? Did Brett Gardner’s son die from food poisoning? What to know

Show Caption

Former New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner and his wife Jessica announced Sunday their teenaged son died after a sudden illness while on vacation.

Gardner said they were vacationing at a hotel in Manuel Antonio, a town on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, when several other family members fell ill. The teen died peacefully in his sleep on March 21, Miller’s parents said.

On Monday, Costa Rican officials told NBC News Miller Gardner died “after a possible intoxication after apparently ingesting some food.” The teen’s cause of death is preliminary, and an autopsy and toxicology analysis are pending, officials told the outlet.

What is food intoxication — is it the same as food poisoning? — and what is asphyxia? Here’s what to know.

What is food intoxication?

Food intoxication and food poisoning are often used interchangeably, according to the USDA, are the same, but are not the same as foodborne illness (infection). Food intoxication refers to eating a food that contains toxins that are already present in the food eaten. The USDA referred to botulism as an example, which is a rare paralytic illness caused by toxins, not by bacteria that produces it, and is the most potent toxins known to humans, according to Johns Hopkins.

What is asphyxia? What is food asphyxiation?

Asphyxiation occurs when the body cannot get enough oxygen, causing breathing disruptions, unconsciousness and potentially death, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Asphyxia has many causes — such as asthma, chemicals and drowning — but can also occur when a foreign object blocks the airway from improperly swallowing food or when choking on vomit. It is more common than likely realized; the Cleveland Clinic says around 19,000 people in the U.S. died from asphyxiation in 2016.

Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.