The world is filled with such a wonderful variety of fruit it’s hard to believe that
any of them could be dangerous - but some are. So, here are the Top 10 Fruits That Can
Kill!
Almonds
OK - first things first, almonds are not really nuts, but rather, they are drupes, a stone
fruit. Now that that's out of the way, many people might be surprised to see one of the
most popular snacks in the world on a list of foods that could potentially poison you.
The humble almond actually contains cyanide, and the amount depends on whether it is a
sweet or bitter almond or whether it’s consumed raw or soaked and roasted. Even the typical
sweet almonds you find at the supermarket contain trace amounts of cyanide, only not
enough to poison, But their cousin, the bitter almond, is considered unsafe to eat and were
banned from cultivation in the US until recently since they can lead to cyanide poisoning.
But don’t freak out next time you're face to face with a bag of almonds at the supermarket:
you would have to eat about fifteen hundred almonds in one sitting to start feeling sick,
and most people would probably get sick of the taste before that happens. Cyanide works
rapidly, so you would know pretty fast if you were poisoned. Dizziness, nausea, rapid
heart rate, and heavy breathing might be the first signs you should take a breather from
that bag of almonds you’ve been snacking on all day. And overall, the health benefits
of almonds are well-documented and well outweigh any potential risks, so feel free to snack
away without fear.
Winterberries
Winterberries look pretty enough, and the bright red color makes them look like so many
other types of edible berries consumed by people. But, don't be fooled by their beauty;
winterberries are known to be dangerous for humans. Found throughout the eastern USA,
winterberries are a great food for certain wildlife immune to its toxins. Humans, however,
should take note before trying one of these berries. They contain an alkaloid, which acts
much like caffeine, and though people might be tempted to switch their coffee for a winterberry
when discovering the similarity, the effects can be adverse and lead to a high pulse rate,
nausea, dizziness, and low blood pressure. Eating massive quantities of this plant can
also lead to potential fatalities, much like people who ingest too much caffeine, which
can lead to heart attacks and palpitations. Children especially, and those who are not
as tolerant to caffeine as adults, should avoid eating these pretty-looking berries.
Thankfully, its reputation is well known, and landscapers generally keep these plants
out of reach from kids, dogs, or anybody who might be susceptible to the harmful effects
of the winterberry. So, think twice before deciding to clip some of these berries to
put in a pie.
Cherries
Something so common as a cherry can’t be dangerous - can it? Well, it’s never so
simple when it comes to fruit. Even if many people throughout the world have enjoyed cherries
on their own, cooked into pies, or made into jams and compotes, there’s a reason everybody
spits out the pits. It's because our ancestors probably tried to eat them and then became
violently sick afterward. The stone found inside the cherries is toxic to humans and
many animals, so try not to gnaw on the pit after eating the delicious cherry. If the
stone is chewed or bit into, it produces hydrogen cyanide, a poison typically found within many
of these dangerous fruits. So, if you find yourself accidentally munching on the whole
cherry, you might want to stop immediately, especially if you start feeling dizzy, sick,
or confused - the first signs of cyanide poisoning. And if you dare to ramp up the number of pits
eaten, it can lead to shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, and eventually death.
Yes, that amazing-looking cherry in your grandma's pie might actually kill you, but don’t let
that take away from you indulging in a big nice slice every now and then, as long as
it's made properly. It’s firmly believed that cherry pies are among the best things
for the human soul, possibly ever. While lapsing into a food coma after eating a whole pie
is not as dangerous as munching on the pits, it’s probably not the best idea either.
Yellow Star Fruit
Star fruit is fairly common these days in supermarkets and have plenty of nutritional
benefits to write home about. They are high in fiber and vitamin C, low in calories, and
the reasonable amount of sugar inside of them is balanced out with the acidity, making it
a semi-tart, healthy fruit. You can even enjoy the skin of these star-shaped delicacies.
But, they can also cause issues for some, especially if you suffer from kidney problems.
The star fruit has a high amount of oxalates, which, while not the most dangerous thing
on this list, can lead to kidney damage and kidney stones. If your kidneys are already
in a less than perfect state, eating too much of this fruit can cause seizures and even
death in some rare cases. So, while it might be unusual to consult a doctor before choosing
which fruit to buy on your usual grocery run, in the case of Yellow Star Fruit, it might
be a good idea to make sure your body can handle it before indulging. The fruit is otherwise
quite popular around Asia, South America, Micronesia, and the Caribbean and is cultivated
in tropical regions of the world, which is why you might find them in the exotic fruit
section of your local grocer. But there’s nothing adventurous or exotic about getting
unwanted kidney stones, so it’s important to beware of this fruit if you have certain
pre-existing conditions.
Elderberry Plant
Elderberry juice is considered by some to be a magical elixir and a fountain of youth
full of antioxidants. However, the plant itself is also quite poisonous, as it contains a
cyanide-inducing glycoside in the roots, stems, leaves, and seeds. If you consume enough of
it, cyanide can build up slowly in the bloodstream and can lead to horrific symptoms such as
vomiting and eventually death. Though most people who consume elderberry don’t munch
on the stems and leaves, the poison also exists in the berries, which humans do consume pretty
regularly. But, if the berry is cooked through and properly, at a certain regulated temperature,
the poison can be eliminated, and then the berries can be adapted and used for a variety
of different recipes. In ancient times, the Elderberry had many medicinal and homeopathic
uses; it has a history of being used to treat fever and rheumatism. The Egyptians even used
it as an anti-aging face mask and used it to heal burned skin. Today, it is found as
a natural supplement, used to treat cold and flu symptoms, or as a sweet ingredient in
pies, chutney, jams, and to make elderberry wine. They are also generally considered nutritious
- just make sure you know what you’re doing when preparing them and follow your old camp
counselor's advice. Don’t just eat whatever berry you see hanging from a tree or plant
- just because it looks delicious doesn’t mean it’s totally edible!
Apricot Kernel
Apricots are beloved worldwide, but very few people know that located deep within the fruit
is a dangerous and poisonous kernel. By deep inside the fruit, we mean even further than
the pit. To get to the poisoned kernel, one has to break into the pit and extract the
small kernel inside, which looks somewhat like an almond. These kernels are the source
of the poison, which, when ingested by humans, releases a substance called Amygdalin which
is converted into cyanide in the body and can kill you quickly if enough of them are
eaten. Nobody really bothers trying to eat the pit of an apricot, let alone breaking
it open to extract the kernel, so they do not come with warnings exactly. The problem,
though, arises because of the kernel's other reputation. Pseudo-scientists have claimed
that the kernel can cure disease and has many other medicinal benefits. There are countries
where the seeds are commonly eaten as they're often marketed as an alternative, homeopathic
medicine, even though research has not proven any such benefits. The US started to ban the
import and sale of Amygdalin, as did the EU, so the dangers have been diminished - for
now - as plenty of misinformation about this kernel propagates online. In the case of the
apricot - just stick to the apricot flesh. It’s delicious enough without having to
go out of your way to hammer through to the pit and potentially harm yourself!
European Spindle
The European Spindle is a tree found commonly throughout Europe, often in places where people
walk or hike, like alongside roads and in forests. The berries found on it are quite
attractive, causing many people to think that they are edible, and they munch on them as
a pick-me-up. But this is a really bad idea. The spindle is filled with many poisons, specifically
glycoside poisons, which can cause terrible side effects like uncontrollable vomiting,
dizziness, hallucinations, kidney failure, and ultimately death. The symptoms also take
a long time to present themselves, which means many people who ingest the berries unwittingly
are not aware that they ate the berries in the first place. But, like many toxic plants,
other uses were found for it. It has also been used as an oil to treat parasites, lice,
and ticks. So, there is a versatility to be found in many of these fruits, which, yes,
can cause harm but also help in certain situations, as long as they are handled correctly.
Pangium Edule Plant
Otherwise known as ‘football fruit,’ the Pangium Edule plant develops chunky brown
fruit, which is used in many Southeast Asian dishes. But like many of these other fruits,
we have to wonder how many people accidentally poisoned themselves before figuring out that
they needed to treat the fruit in a certain way before consuming it. In the case of Pangium
Edule, the leaves and seeds contain a high amount of gynocardin, a glucoside that forms
the toxin known as prussic acid, otherwise known as hydrogen cyanide. However, the toxic
element can be eliminated with the correct treatment. Washing, soaking, or roasting prior
to consumption can decrease the toxin, rendering it edible. If treated correctly, even the
previously toxic seeds can be consumed without worry. The plant is mainly distributed throughout
Indonesia, though it is becoming rarer and rarer, especially in the regions of Java and
Sumatra, where it is thought to originate from. And despite its notorious reputation
as a poisoner, the plant has many herbal medicinal benefits too and is widely used throughout
Indonesia for health purposes. Oil made from the seeds is used as a disinfectant and even
for food storage and preservation. The edible portions of the plant are highly nutritious
and considered a great source of vitamin C and iron. So, a takeaway might be that, sometimes,
even the dangerous plants have their benefits!
Ackee Fruit
The Blighia Sapida, also known as the ackee or ankye fruit, belongs to the same family
of fruit as the lychee and is the national fruit of Jamaica. It is renowned for being
delicious and unique to look at, but it also comes with a warning. The Ackee fruit can
kill you if not prepared or ripened properly and has been known to cause the terror-inducing
‘Jamaican Vomiting Sickness'. Ouch, that doesn't sound fun. The fruit contains the
toxin hypoglycin A and hypoglycin B, also known as ‘soapberry toxins,’ and the poison
resides mainly in the seeds and arils. The toxins vary depending on the time of year
the fruit is picked and how much sun exposure it has had, but it’s a fruit that you wouldn’t
want to risk eating incorrectly. You never really know if what you’re eating will have
a lethal dose, but it’s especially toxic when the fruit is unripe. Otherwise, nothing
should deter you from trying this delicious fruit, as they are found in some of the best
Jamaican, Caribbean, and West African cuisine. The heartwood from the tree is even used for construction.
Plus, it's so fragrant; it’s also used in popular colognes and laundering agents. Talk
about a dangerous but versatile fruit!
Manchineel
Manchineel’s dangerous origins come built into the name, as it’s more commonly known
as Poison Guava. In fact, the Manchineel tree this Guava comes from is so dangerous and
poisonous that it is not recommended that you touch, eat, or even inhale the air around
it. Yes, it has the unfortunate reputation of being America’s deadliest tree. It’s
particularly dangerous because the tree and the fruit look so benign and edible and totally
beautiful. However, munching on one would be a terrible idea. So terrible that Spanish
explorers called it la manzanilla de la Muerte, which translates to ‘the little apple of
death". It’s one of the rare fruits on this list that have not only deadly seeds and flesh,
but the entire plant it derives from is just as deadly. And it’s not a quick death either.
Blisters develop around the mouth as breathing labors: it’s slow going if you become poisoned
by one of these little green monsters. Much of this comes from the phorbol found within
the sap, an irritant, as well as many other toxins, which, when combined, can be lethal.
There have been accounts of people unwittingly eating the fruit, and although described as
sweet and delicious, the accidental taste-testers spent many hours with their throats burning
and found it very hard to swallow or breathe. And don’t even try to rub your eyes to brush
the tears away - if your fingers have just touched the fruit, you’re likely to blind
yourself too. So, this is one fruit you don’t even want to try to mess with - just avoid
it altogether, or else!
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