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Germany issues warning on internet apricot kernels
Germany
Tuesday 26 June 2007
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) last week warned consumers about buying potentially poisonous apricot kernel snacks over the internet.
Bitter apricot kernels have become popular throughout the EU as a snack. Regulators have been concerned about the way companies have been promoting the kernels as a health food.
Several websites have claimed that amygdalin fights cancer cells. According to the BfR report, these health claims are unsubstantiated, and could "irresponsibly" encourage ill people to buy them.
Bitter apricot kernels have a high level of amygdalin. Hydrocyanic acid, which is toxic, is released from the glycoside amygdalin during digestion. This acid can lead to symptoms of poisoning like cramp, vomiting and respiratory distress, and may even provoke fatal respiratory paralysis at high doses.
The BfR scientific report said that eating more than only a few kernels per day can lead to the onset of these acute poisoning symptoms.
"Consumers should not, therefore, eat more than one or two bitter apricot kernels a day, or even none at all for precautionary reasons," the BfR advises.
It recommends that at the very least all customers should be made aware of the possible side-effects when they buy the product.
Bitter apricot kernels have become popular throughout the EU as a snack. Regulators have been concerned about the way companies have been promoting the kernels as a health food.
Several websites have claimed that amygdalin fights cancer cells. According to the BfR report, these health claims are unsubstantiated, and could "irresponsibly" encourage ill people to buy them.
Bitter apricot kernels have a high level of amygdalin. Hydrocyanic acid, which is toxic, is released from the glycoside amygdalin during digestion. This acid can lead to symptoms of poisoning like cramp, vomiting and respiratory distress, and may even provoke fatal respiratory paralysis at high doses.
The BfR scientific report said that eating more than only a few kernels per day can lead to the onset of these acute poisoning symptoms.
"Consumers should not, therefore, eat more than one or two bitter apricot kernels a day, or even none at all for precautionary reasons," the BfR advises.
It recommends that at the very least all customers should be made aware of the possible side-effects when they buy the product.
