Adam Richman of Man v. Food spoke up about his near-death experience in 2018 on the August 3 Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did podcast episode. During a Michelin event in Zurich in 2018, the 48-year-old realized something was awry. Richman said on the program that he discovered a pimple-like development in one of his mustache follicles. The actor and TV celebrity later said that the illness caused his lips to swell to the size of a banana.
The Brooklyn native, best known as the presenter of various food challenge shows, including Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, said that the problem was caused by an infection with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
The amazing @AdamRichman reminisces with me about his time on Man v Food and his proud legacy spotlighting great eats.
He talks food challenges, dealing with overfamiliar fans, transcendent food experiences and the real reason he stepped away from the show. pic.twitter.com/mc9CkFNIhR
— Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did (@CelebCatchUpPod) August 3, 2022
Adam Richman’s life-threatening illness in 2018
According to the TV host, he caught the staph infection in 2018 in Zurich, Switzerland. Adam Richman shared more in his appearance on the Celebrity Catch Up: Life After That Thing I Did podcast:
“One of my mustache follicles looked like a pimple and was not mending properly.” I went to the doctor, and then my lip ballooned like a banana – it was ugly. I recall going to cut a piece of medical tape and being unable to reach my teeth.”
To address the illness, Adam Richman had surgery and was given numerous antibiotics. He was apparently advised at the time that the illness may develop intracranially and spread to his brain. Richman was told that the infection on his mustache follicle was in a zone known as the “risk triangle,” and that it may spread to his skull, posing a life-threatening condition. According to the food aficionado, Richman is still unsure of the reason for his MRSA illness. He stated:
“The doctor indicated it might have been anything from a water glass to a hotel towel, shaking someone’s hand, and then inevitably it was a water glass” (touching my face). There are several possibilities.”
Rickman went on to explain how bad things would have been if he hadn’t healed fully, saying:
“At the time, it never seemed like ‘you’re going to die – it was never postulated, but it was always kind of known.” They probably didn’t want to scare me.”
What exactly is MRSA infection?
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), sometimes known as the MRSA superbug, is a bacterium that causes staph infection. They are exceedingly tough to treat since the bacterias are highly robust and develop resistance to a variety of medications. If left untreated, MRSA infection may spread rapidly and cause sepsis. This may quickly grow into a life-threatening situation, triggering the immune system and affecting other organs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States:
“MRSA may affect anybody. Crowded activities or venues, skin-to-skin contact, and shared equipment or supplies all enhance the risk. Some persons who possess MRSA may get infected with MRSA. Non-intact skin, such as abrasions or cuts, is often the location of an MRSA infection.”
What happened to Adam Richman after he appeared in Man v. Food?
After hosting the Travel Channel’s smash program Man V. Food since 2008, Adam Richman left the show in 2012 after his 88th episode. There were rumors at the time that Richman had left the program due to health issues. However, the former presenter allegedly refuted such allegations. A year after leaving the program, Adam Richman revealed to PEOPLE magazine that he had dropped 60 pounds since leaving Man v. Food, saying:
“People expect me to order the largest, most expensive meal, but it’s good to say no.” Dyson, I’m not a human.”
Following Adam Richman’s departure from Man v. Food, the TV host produced a number of food-documentary shows, including Man, Finds Food, Modern Marvels, and The Food That Built America, among many others.