Man who eats bag of black licorice weekly sues Twizzlers over heart condition

FDA recently issued warning about natural sweetener in candy

FDA recently issued warning about natural sweetener in candy

Man who eats bag of black licorice weekly sues Twizzlers over heart condition

FDA recently issued warning about natural sweetener in candy

A 73-year-old New Yorker is suing the Hershey Company, People reports. He believes Twizzlers' black licorice contributed to his current heart condition.According to the New York Post, David Goldberg, a self-described “healthy individual who is not obese” and who “has never had any heart conditions," has eaten at least one bag of Twizzlers black licorice every week for many, many years. Last year, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation — a condition causing irregular and sometimes rapid heart rates, which increases chances of heart attacks and strokes — and put on medication for the condition. Though he's reportedly stopped eating the licorice, his condition hasn't improved. Also last year, the FDA issued an official warning specifically about black licorice, writing: "If you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia."The statement continued:FDA experts say black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is the sweetening compound derived from licorice root. Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. When that happens, some people experience abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, edema (swelling), lethargy and congestive heart failure.In the lawsuit, Goldberg's representation claims, " knew for years that its black licorice candy posed a health threat." A Hershey's representative wouldn't comment to the Post on the specific case, though did say, "All of our products are safe to eat and formulated in full compliance with FDA regulations, including the agency’s regulation affirming the safety of licorice extract for use in food."

A 73-year-old New Yorker is suing the Hershey Company, reports. He believes Twizzlers' black licorice contributed to his current heart condition.

According to the , David Goldberg, a self-described “healthy individual who is not obese” and who “has never had any heart conditions," has eaten at least one bag of Twizzlers black licorice every week for many, many years.

Last year, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation — a condition causing irregular and sometimes rapid heart rates, which increases chances of heart attacks and strokes — and put on medication for the condition. Though he's reportedly stopped eating the licorice, his condition hasn't improved.

Also last year, the issued an official warning specifically about black licorice, writing: "If you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia."

The statement continued:

FDA experts say black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is the sweetening compound derived from licorice root. Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. When that happens, some people experience abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, edema (swelling), lethargy and congestive heart failure.

In the lawsuit, Goldberg's representation claims, "[Twizzlers and the Hershey Company] knew for years that its black licorice candy posed a health threat." A Hershey's representative wouldn't comment to the Post on the specific case, though did say, "All of our products are safe to eat and formulated in full compliance with FDA regulations, including the agency’s regulation affirming the safety of licorice extract for use in food."

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