Tag: Cyanide in nuts

According to the World Health Organization, unsafe food causes an estimated 600 million people to fall ill each year, and some nuts, if improperly prepared or eaten in the wrong variety, can contribute to this risk. While many nuts are healthy and nutritious, some contain compounds that are highly toxic to humans if consumed incorrectly.

Cyanide compounds are produced naturally in thousands of plant species as a defense mechanism against predators. This raises the question: what nuts and seeds have cyanide or other cyanogenic glycosides that can be toxic if consumed in large quantities?