View From the Duck Pond

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Poisoned Apples

The guy next to me at work today was eating a nectarine and trying to eat the seed (he was REALLY hungry!).  I was intrigued.
 
So, apparently, apples and apricots store poison in their seeds.  In fact some apricots and bitter almonds(not the kind we commonly eat) have caused children to die from cyanide poisoning.
 
However, it's not just apples, apricots, and almonds.  Cherries, peaches, and more also have amygdalin in them which can be converted by bacteria in our digestive system into cyanide.
 
It totally gives new meaning to the story of Snow White, you know?  Poisoned apples and all.
 
 
 
NOTE:  I could find no proof of anyone actually being poisoned by an apple, only apricots and bitter almonds.  And, yes, I was definitely bored at work.

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