Tag: Chickling pea

According to the National Institutes of Health, devastating neurolathyrism epidemics have occurred during major famine crises, where a lack of alternative food sources leads to the overconsumption of toxic legumes. Lathyrism is an irreversible neurological condition caused by the prolonged intake of seeds from certain plants of the genus *Lathyrus*, such as the grass pea.

For thousands of years, *Lathyrus sativus*, or grass pea, has been an important crop in drought-prone regions due to its resilience and high protein content, but is *Lathyrus sativus* edible? Historically, reliance on this legume during famine led to widespread paralytic disease, revealing a critical need for proper preparation.