We are very sad to share the news that Elana passed away on February 8, 2025. It is a traumatic and tragic loss for her family, friends, and the entire Elana’s Pantry community.
Elana was a creative beacon who was constantly looking for ways to help people and make the world a better place. She founded two companies that were the definition of doing well by doing good.
Ecosav started in 1993, was a leader in bringing recycling programs to New York City commercial establishments and helping them reduce their waste bills in the process. She was named one of the city’s 40 under 40 for her work.
Elana’s Pantry, founded in 2006, brought simple, healthy, gluten free, and grain free recipes and extensive health and wellness advice to millions of people. She was also the author of three cookbooks, including a New York Times bestseller, and an investor in numerous cutting-edge companies bringing healthy products to people, like Primal Kitchen, LMNT, Kettle & Fire, Wellnesse, Magic Spoon, SteadyMD, Serenity Kids, and Beekeeper’s Naturals.
Elana was committed to giving back with charities such as Pesticide Action Network, Not Putting on a Shirt, Tulane Medical School, Boulder Community Hospital, Baby2Baby, Castleman’s Disease Collaborative Network, and The Anti-Recidivism Fund, and was a co-founder of the Katz Amsterdam Foundation.
Elana was also a fierce advocate for women’s health and eliminating biases through systemic change in the medical system.
Elana had a number of challenges in her life but always found a way to connect and help people, never wavering from her goal to “save the world”, a goal she told her parents about when she was 22.
She will be deeply missed.
Elana is survived by her husband and two sons as well as her parents and sister. We ask for privacy for her family during this very tough time.
maggie milliette says
Dear Family of Elana, I just returned to Elanas pantry website to find this loss to her family. This is truly heartbreaking. I’m so very sad for your loss and all of use. Her work on many fronts, family, activism, cooking, wellness was incredible. Elanas stark honesty, beauty, and pioneering efforts to bring us healthy beautiful food was and is such a gift. I often wish I could be such a person, before I learned to accept my own life more fully. Much love to your all. She will live on in her family. Thank you and prayers, M
Carol Boigon says
We are so so so sorry for your loss. Her optimism, vision, courage and wonderful recipes were a true gift to our Celiac family. Elana, of blessed memory, was so important to many thousands of us. We wish you comfort at this sad, sad time.
Dolores Zamarripa says
My condolences to Elana’s family. I returned to university to finish my Bachelor’s degree and have not visited the site and was unaware of her passing. She will truly be missed.
I sought out her page today. because tomorrow is Father’s Day and her orange cake is my husbands favorite.
Again I am so sorry she is gone and thank you to her family for sharing her gifts with us.!
Liz says
I keep coming back to this page as I am having trouble believing this terrible news. It breaks my heart that she is gone and was so clearly in a lot of mental anguish before she left.
Her recipes have been become part of my standard repertoire and I have referred many friends and family to this site and to her cookbooks.
The world lost a shining light when she died. May her memory be a blessing.
Imegahan says
What happened? Why is she gone? I’m so sorry, deeply, four my loss and for yours. Speechless.
Dylan says
I’m very sad Elana Amsterdam passing and didn’t know that. Im very sorry for family loss, and praying for staying up in better place with Heavenly Father. She’s so missed and will always love her baking, and I will continue to bake some more of her same recipes on her website and cookbook. I will remember her.
Rochelle says
She passed too soon. May her memory be a blessing to her family and loved ones.
Brooke says
I am so sorry to Elana’s family and friends for your loss of Elana. This is heartbreaking.