Products based on bitter apricot seeds recalled due to concerns regarding cyanide poisoning

A recall notice has been issued for Apricot Power brand Apricot Power brand Apricots and Apricot Bean Cakes due to concerns regarding cyanide poisoning.

Ecoideas Innovations Inc., a Canadian retailer of natural health products, recalled the recall on June 1, as its brand of Bitter Raw Apricot Seeds and Apricot Power Apricot Seed Flour contains a toxin natural called amygdalin. The toxin, present in bitter apricot kernels, can cause cyanide poisoning if consumed in sufficient quantities.

The recall warning, issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), indicates that the dosage information for recalled products is incorrect and that excessive consumption of apricot products may cause poisoning at the time of shipment. cyanide.

The following products are affected by the recall:

• "Bitter raw apricot seeds" in Apricot Power, 454 grams, EXP 0121, CUP 7 280284 537130
• Apricot Power's "Bitter Raw Apricot Seeds", 226 grams, EXP 0121, CUP 7 528303 370840
• "Apricot seed meal" from Apricot Power, 191.4 grams, 0218WF March 2020, UPC 7 280284 536904

In its recall warning, the CFIA states that anyone who owns the above products should send them to us or send them back to the store where they were purchased. The products have been distributed nationwide.

The CFIA has stated that no cases of illness badociated with the recalled products have been reported.

Health Canada says that bitter apricot kernels naturally contain amygdalin, which could release cyanide if it was consumed by a person.

"The bitter apricot kernels naturally contain a compound called amygdalin, which can release cyanide during the ingestion of nuclei," says the warning. "Small amounts of cyanide can be detoxified by the human body, but large amounts can be deadly."

Some people use ground or whole bitter apricot kernels to season food for medical or medical purposes. However, Health Canada has not approved the medicinal or natural uses of bitter apricot kernels.

For its part, Health Canada states that sweet apricot kernels are not considered a health risk for cyanide because they contain less amygdalin.

The CFIA warns that symptoms of high cyanide exposure may include headache, dizziness, mental confusion, weakness, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and coma.