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Poison lurks everywhere – even in common foods you would never expect to be poisonous. Beware of these deadly eight items of food! They can all kill you before you’re done enjoying your meal.
Almonds
Seemingly healthy for you, these not-so-safe delights can never be eaten raw and unprocessed because of the amount of cyanide contained in each one of them. New Zealand has banned them and the US monitors the cleaning and heating process of them very carefully – so yes, that’s also why it’s not a cheap snack either.
Nutmeg
Did you know that nutmeg is a hallucinogen? If consumed in great quantities, it’s like taking a serious trip on some Amphetamines. Eating a whole nutmeg can give you something called a ‘nutmeg psychosis’ – probably rather psychedelic and comparable to ’shrooms, but yeah, death has been reported as well.
Tomatoes
You say tomato, I say poison! Apparently the green stems of tomatoes, especially those of green, unripe young ones can cause stomach pain and agitation. But we’re going to assume the general population isn’t going to just pick a tomato from a plant and start eating it, but steer clear of tomato tea!
Rhubarb
Though I don’t know why anyone would want much of this weird tasting plant in their food, but just 5kg can kill a person. A lesser amount can sicken you as well. The reddish ‘stalks’ of the plant contain oxalic acid. Rhubarb pie for dessert? I think I’ll try something else…
Milk
Ever wonder why there’s been so many recalls on milk products? Let’s just say there’s a lot more to watch out for other than the expiration date on your dairy products. If the Chinese milk scandal of ’08 taught us anything, it’s that melamine is a substance that must be thoroughly tested in all milk-based products—and it’s POISON! Furthermore, ice cream alone can kill you due to high risks in salmonella which can be caused by a number of unsanitary reasons, not to mention home-made ice cream incorporating unpasteurized milk. This dangerous ingredient is basically just as risky as eating a raw egg… Note to self: if it’s straight from the farm, beware!
Water
Too much of a good thing can kill anybody, so yes, too much of water can really kill you too. Over consumption of water can mess up the electrolyte count in your brain though you shouldn’t really be too worried – you’d have to drink more than your own body mass a day for it to kill you (which has happened before). The technical term is called ‘water intoxication’ which is ironic cause normally when I think of being intoxicated, I use water to help me out of that.
Cherries
Don’t suck on your cherry seeds and you’ll probably never have to worry. Just like apple seeds, they contain cyanogenic acids, which a low amount will be harmless if your body is mighty and flighty in fighting it off, but if you happen to absorb too much of it cause you decided to chew on the seeds or something—that’s a huge no-no right there.
Blowfish (Fugu)
It is a delicacy but it is also a deadly little sucker. It’s ovaries, skin, muscles, liver and who knows what else is chock full of tetrodotoxin—a powerful poison that is 1,200 times more deadly than cyanide. The chefs in Japan and Hong Kong who prepare these go under extensive training and might even be given the death penalty if their customers die instantly (paralysis and death expected in four to six hours after consumption), or you know, at least get fired or something.
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food poison science Posted under Lists by gotgame
I think I’ll make a shake in my Blendtec with all of this stuff and see what happens. (Maybe I’ll leave out the fugu)lol
by: Whole House Water Filter, Feb 20th at 11:38 am
The type of almonds that you buy in the store are “sweet almonds” that do not contain any cyanide. It’s bitter almonds that contain the cyanide and these are not available to the general public
by: Mark, Feb 20th at 11:45 am
AHH THE INTERTUBES - RIDICULOUS & INNACURATE STUFF SINCE SEPTEMBER 1993
by: Jonathan, Feb 20th at 11:52 am
Where did you get the information that almond is banned in New Zealand? I live here and you can buy them in packets quite easily. Also, you’re weird. Rhubarb Crumble is awesome. Who would eat 5kgs of rhubarb crumble in one go anyway?And melamine was added to milk by asian companies to make the protein content appear higher even when the milk is watered down like crazy with water, it’s not naturally occurring in milk and it hasn’t been found in anywhere except China and India so far. Aw, now I feel like a killjoy.
by: Frances, Feb 20th at 12:12 pm
New Zealand banned almonds? That’s news to me. I live in NZ, and I’ve got a bag full of them in my cabinet.
by: Chris, Feb 20th at 12:45 pm
The milk posting is dumb. If you get your milk from a reputable farm you will not run into any of the problems with it. You start to see problems when you get unsanitary conditions from factory farms. I drink raw milk straight from the cow everyday. I know that there are no udder conditions with these cows. I know it is not contaminated with feces. When you buy anything from a factory “farm” you are exposing yourself to a plethora of health risks. Please do your research next time before you make a broad statement such as you have against farm fresh milk.
by: Jeremy, Feb 20th at 12:48 pm
There are 2 varieties of almonds - sweet and bitter. Only bitter almonds contain cyanide.
Sweet almonds are very healthy raw, and there is no danger of poisoning. In the Middle East they are eaten fresh off the tree.
Let’s be accurate in our reporting!
by: Mike, Feb 20th at 1:17 pm
FYI- Almonds are not illegal in New Zealand
by: Kiwi Punch, Feb 20th at 1:27 pm
Great list, but there’s one more you forgot.
Did you know that the seeds of Flavonoids(citrus fruits) like lemons, limes, and oranges(yes, that sweet innocent-looking orange) are poisonous too!?!
Say it with me Digg peoples, “Don’t. Eat. The seeds.”
by: jblogit, Feb 20th at 1:37 pm
This list is utter bullshit.
1) WILD almonds contain trace amounts of cyanide. Almonds you buy in the store, even raw almonds, contain zero cyanide.
2) When is the last time you saw a recipe call for more than a “pinch” of nutmeg? Beside, pre-ground, packaged nutmeg is completely safe.
3) And why would you eat the stem of a tomato?
4) “If it’s straight from the farm, beware”? How about if it’s straight from the factory farm, beware.
5) Do you know how much water it takes to actually accomplish this? Try gallons of water a day. Yeah, let’s scare people who probably don’t drink enough water as it is into drinking less.
6) Have you ever tried to eat a cherry pit? You’d break your tooth before you could eat it.
7) Gee, I’ll have to avoid all those thousands of blowfish restaurants that are popping up all over the place.
by: Ian, Feb 20th at 2:09 pm
Hmm… let’s start at the beginning. Almonds: I eat sometimes a pound a week of raw almonds. You just have to sprout them first. Nutmeg: You ever see one of these things? HUGE and stonelike…no way you’re eating enough to get high. Tomato: the stems and leaves smell HORRIBLE; just try to eat one, let alone too many. Rhubarb: 5kg = 11lbs. enough said there… Milk: It’s processed crap they’ve convinced us we need. Poison from the git-go (notmilk.org) Water: yeah, too much will kill you; especially if it’s full of chloramines, fluoride compounds and pharmaceuticals. Get a filter. Cherries: Most likely like apple seeds and rhubarb. Eat more than you can imagine and it will be bad. and lastly; the Blowfish: Well look and the thing! It says eat me and you will not be happy if you ask me. I think I would throw that one back and wait for something fish shaped. Informative list, yet somewhat misleading. Thanks!
by: Damon, Feb 20th at 2:34 pm
Cause and because, not the same word.
by: TehGrammarNazi, Feb 20th at 3:56 pm
what a fear-mongerer
by: johnny101, Feb 27th at 11:21 am