Paul Stanley, host of Hoy, left the Televisa San Ángel forum this Monday, where the morning program is recorded after a sudden discomfort. Hours later he appeared with a swollen face.
The former participant of La Casa de los Famosos México 2023 published a photograph of his face on Instagram: “This man never knew that he was allergic to this typical, delicious earth fruit and by carving his crystal blue eye he lost his working day. Follow me for more tips.”
Paco Stanley’s son has experience in the field of gastronomy and even has a restaurant called Birria del Pacífico, however, one food caused him a medical emergency.
What caused Paul Stanley’s allergic reaction?
The television presenter later explained to the media: “I am allergic to raw shrimp and I had felt, when I eat escamoles, the same allergy sensation, but I said ‘it’s okay, I cook them, I know how to cook them’” .
When Paul opened the bag of escamoles, he touched his eye and it began to swell: “I quickly went to the Televisa infirmary… I’m more or less there, I had to record some things and I already changed them for Wednesday… “I didn’t know I was so allergic, I started to feel like I had a huge fly in my eye.”
The driver was treated with oxygen and other medications: “They kept me under observation, that’s why I couldn’t go on the program anymore.” This Tuesday, Stanley returned to the forum, noticeably improved.
Mayo Clinic explains: “When you have a food allergy, your immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or substance in food as harmful. In response, the immune system causes cells to release an antibody called immunoglobulin E to neutralize the allergen.”
Any food can cause an allergy, although this response is common with shellfish; the body reacts to proteins from some marine animals such as crustaceans and mollusks (shrimp, crabs, lobsters, squid, oysters, scallops and snails).
Symptoms can range from mild (hives or nasal congestion) to severe and life-threatening, such as anaphylaxis, which causes difficulty breathing, swelling, and fainting.
What are escamoles that caused Paul Stanley’s allergy?
Escamoles are popularly known as ‘Mexican caviar’, since it is considered very valuable, expensive and exquisite. They are also called ant roe, maicitos, guijes or iujis; They are usually collected during Lent and are found at the base of the maguey, nopaleras or next to pirul trees.
The Encyclopedic Dictionary of Mexican Gastronomy explains that the name comes from the Nahuatl azcamolli (azcatl-ant and mulli-stew).
These are larvae and pupae of ants (Liometopum apiculatum and Liometopum occidentale), they are white and in appearance resemble puffed rice, said specialized site mentions:
“They are extracted from the soil where ants make their nests… In many places they are considered to have a fine flavor and have a high protein value.”
There are several ways to prepare escamoles, they can appear in moles, mixiotes, tamales, sauces, broths, baked goods, tunas, stuffed xoconostles, in stews with nopales, fried in butter, in tacos.
According to a statement from the Government of Mexico, escamoles have “a much higher percentage of nutrients than beef and chicken”:
- 40 and 60 percent protein
- fats
- vitamins
- minerals
