The Food Standards Agency is
today warning consumers of the possible risk to health from excess consumption
of bitter apricot kernels and is issuing advice on safe levels of use.
The Agency’s scientific committee, the Committee on Toxicity of
Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), expressed
concern that, when ingested, bitter apricot kernels can produce cyanide.
The COT therefore considered a safe intake is equivalent to one to
two kernels a day.
The FSA asked the COT to review the safety of this product at its meeting
on 28 March 2006 following information provided by Buckinghamshire Trading
Standards about bitter apricot kernels on sale in a local Julian Graves
store. The paper discussed at the COT meeting is available at the link
below.
The dosage sheet accompanying the product indicated that consumers could
take a maximum of 10 kernels a day, five times the limit recommended
by the COT. Julian Graves voluntarily withdrew this product from sale
in its UK stores.
The FSA is concerned that other retail and internet outlets may be selling
the kernels and not providing accurate advice about maximum intake.
The Agency is investigating other outlets and will also discuss possible
EU action to protect consumers at a meeting with the European Commission
and other member states on 21 April 2006.
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those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released
by the Food Standards Agency (UK) on 11 April 2006. For further information,
please visit their website
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