Food is a source of nourishment, pleasure, and happiness for many of us. However, for millions around the world, a simple meal can be a potentially lethal event. People still eat some foods that are thought to be staples or treats, even if they can kill you. Let’s look at some of the most harmful foods in the world and why people still consume them.
Over 800 million people in about 80 nations depend on cassava, a root vegetable, for their lives. But its roots and leaves have cyanogenic glycosides in them that turn into cyanide when eaten raw or not cooked correctly. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that cassava poisoning kills roughly 200 people every year, making it the “world’s deadliest food.” Even if there are risks, cassava is easy to produce, can survive dry spells, and gives you important carbs. When done right, the cyanide levels go down, making it safe to eat.
Fugu, a Japanese dish produced from pufferfish, has a poison in it that is 200 times more dangerous than cyanide. Tetrodotoxin poisoning can produce numbness, paralysis, and death, with no antidote available. Fugu is a popular dish for people who like to take risks, but only highly skilled and licensed chefs can make it.
Starfruit, which seems like an innocuous fruit, has neurotoxins that can kill anyone with kidney problems. The poison builds up and causes seizures, confusion, and even death. Starfruit is a tasty and healthy food for people with good kidneys, though.
Cherry pits and apple seeds are two examples of foods that have hidden risks. They contain amygdalin, which converts into cyanide when crushed or swallowed. When green potatoes are exposed to light, they make solanine, a poison that can make you paralyzed or put you in a coma if you eat a lot of it. Urushiol, the same chemical found in poison ivy, occurs in raw cashews. Nutmeg, on the other hand, can produce hallucinations, nausea, and seizures if you eat a much of it.
Death cap mushrooms and rhubarb leaves both contain oxalic acid, a natural poison that can kill you if you consume them. Phytohaemagglutinin is a poison that can make you throw up and have stomach cramps when you eat raw kidney beans.
Many people still eat these meals, even when they are dangerous, since they have to or want to try something new. It’s a fine line between risk and reward, where the excitement of attempting something new or the desire for food surpasses the possible perils. We may enjoy the variety and complexity of the world’s most dangerous meals if we know the hazards and take the right steps to protect ourselves.
