19 foods you didn't know could kill you
Be cautious when eating these foods!
Mushrooms
Mushrooms
Not every mushroom is created equal. Crimini mushrooms might make perfect pasta toppers, but some species contain poisons that can kill.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
The juicy, red fruit contains a poison, Glycoalkaloid, in its leaves, which is known for causing upset stomachs, severe cramping, and anxiety. So steer clear of the leaves and stems.
Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb might bake up all kinds of delicious sweets, but the leaves are poisonous, causing breathing trouble, seizures, kidney failure, and in some cases, death.
Peanuts
Peanuts
One of the most common allergies is to peanuts. The most severe response is anaphylaxis, which can lead to severe constriction of the airways, shock, and even loss of consciousness. It is dangerous enough to cause death if left untreated, so know your allergies before stepping anywhere near these babies or their addictive friend, peanut butter.
Shellfish
Shellfish
A severe allergic reaction to shellfish can inhibit breathing and even be life-threatening.
Potatoes
Potatoes
Potatoes have both poisonous stems and leaves, but even so, potato poisoning is rare. Most potato-related deaths come from eating green potatoes, or drinking potato leaf tea.
Cherries
Cherries
Watch out for cherry seeds, which contain poisonous hydrogen cyanide.
Raw Meat and Uncooked Eggs
Raw Meat and Uncooked Eggs
Raw meat — including red meat, poultry, and seafood — and uncooked eggs can contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause gastroenteritis in humans. Salmonella poisoning can also lead to serious complications, such as bacteremia (when salmonella enters the bloodstream) that are life-threatening to people with weaker immune systems. So light a flame under your meat to avoid any risks.
Almonds
Almonds
This seed (it's not actually a nut) may pack in many health benefits — but they are also potentially full of poison. Bitter almonds, while in their raw form, are full of cynaide. They need to go through a specialized heat treatment (more than just your DIY oven roasting) in order to remove the toxins.
Hot Dogs
Hot Dogs
The ballpark favorite is the leading cause of choking fatalities among children, so watch your little ones when they scarf 'em down.
Stone Fruit Seeds and Apple Seeds
Stone Fruit Seeds and Apple Seeds
Apples and stone fruits — cherries, plums, apples, pears, peaches, and apricots — are nature's candy, but stay away from the seeds (as well as the bark and leaves). They contain amygdalin, a compound that produces cyanide. Large doses can lead to dizziness and vomiting, increased blood pressure, kidney failure, coma, and even death.
Elderberry
Elderberry
Berries are great, but the elderberry plant, used in medicinal syrups, sodas, and liquors can cause a severely upset stomach, so stay away from the stems and leaves.
Castor Oil
Castor Oil
Castor oil comes from the castor bean plant, which is loaded with the poison ricin. Make sure the beans your castor oil was made from adhered to all safety guidelines.
Fugu (Puffer Fish)
Fugu (Puffer Fish)
The puffer fish's skin and certain organs contain an extremely poisonous toxin that can paralyze a human and even cause death.
Ackee
Ackee
This pear-shaped fruit needs to ripen fully, as it contains toxins that can lead to death. Importation of the raw fruit is banned in the U.S, but you can buy it canned.
Honey
Honey
, poisonous toxins, are found in this sweet and sticky treat. If honey isn't pasteurized properly, eating it can lead to headaches, dizziness, weakness and vomiting — eating too much of it can be fatal.
Kidney and Lima Beans
Kidney and Lima Beans
These legumes are good for you, unless they're prepared incorrectly. Soak red kidney beans for several hours to remove lectins, which can kill the cells in your stomach, and cook and drain lima beans thoroughly to get rid of the chemical compound, linamarin, which can turn into hydrogen cyanide.
Tuna
Tuna
You've likely heard about the dangers of mercury poisoning, and that's a big reason why you should be careful of your raw tuna intake — especially for children and pregnant women. Once ingested, it can cause itching, pain, high blood pressure and other dangerous symptoms.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg
You most likely already have nutmeg in your spice cabinet. Though it's great to have on-hand for baking, ingesting a significant amount can lead to like disorientation, hallucinations and hyper-excitation.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms
Not every mushroom is created equal. Crimini mushrooms might make perfect pasta toppers, but some species contain poisons that can kill.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
The juicy, red fruit contains a poison, Glycoalkaloid, in its leaves, which is known for causing upset stomachs, severe cramping, and anxiety. So steer clear of the leaves and stems.
Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb might bake up all kinds of delicious sweets, but the leaves are poisonous, causing breathing trouble, seizures, kidney failure, and in some cases, death.
Peanuts
Peanuts
One of the most common allergies is to peanuts. The most severe response is anaphylaxis, which can lead to severe constriction of the airways, shock, and even loss of consciousness. It is dangerous enough to cause death if left untreated, so know your allergies before stepping anywhere near these babies or their addictive friend, peanut butter.
Shellfish
Shellfish
A severe allergic reaction to shellfish can inhibit breathing and even be life-threatening.
Potatoes
Potatoes
Potatoes have both poisonous stems and leaves, but even so, potato poisoning is rare. Most potato-related deaths come from eating green potatoes, or drinking potato leaf tea.
Cherries
Cherries
Watch out for cherry seeds, which contain poisonous hydrogen cyanide.
Raw Meat and Uncooked Eggs
Raw Meat and Uncooked Eggs
Raw meat — including red meat, poultry, and seafood — and uncooked eggs can contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause gastroenteritis in humans. Salmonella poisoning can also lead to serious complications, such as bacteremia (when salmonella enters the bloodstream) that are life-threatening to people with weaker immune systems. So light a flame under your meat to avoid any risks.
Almonds
Almonds
This seed (it's not actually a nut) may pack in many health benefits — but they are also potentially full of poison. Bitter almonds, while in their raw form, are full of cynaide. They need to go through a specialized heat treatment (more than just your DIY oven roasting) in order to remove the toxins.
Hot Dogs
Hot Dogs
The ballpark favorite is the leading cause of choking fatalities among children, so watch your little ones when they scarf 'em down.
Stone Fruit Seeds and Apple Seeds
Stone Fruit Seeds and Apple Seeds
Apples and stone fruits — cherries, plums, apples, pears, peaches, and apricots — are nature's candy, but stay away from the seeds (as well as the bark and leaves). They contain amygdalin, a compound that produces cyanide. Large doses can lead to dizziness and vomiting, increased blood pressure, kidney failure, coma, and even death.
Elderberry
Elderberry
Berries are great, but the elderberry plant, used in medicinal syrups, sodas, and liquors can cause a severely upset stomach, so stay away from the stems and leaves.
Castor Oil
Castor Oil
Castor oil comes from the castor bean plant, which is loaded with the poison ricin. Make sure the beans your castor oil was made from adhered to all safety guidelines.
Fugu (Puffer Fish)
Fugu (Puffer Fish)
The puffer fish's skin and certain organs contain an extremely poisonous toxin that can paralyze a human and even cause death.
Ackee
Ackee
This pear-shaped fruit needs to ripen fully, as it contains toxins that can lead to death. Importation of the raw fruit is banned in the U.S, but you can buy it canned.
Honey
Honey
, poisonous toxins, are found in this sweet and sticky treat. If honey isn't pasteurized properly, eating it can lead to headaches, dizziness, weakness and vomiting — eating too much of it can be fatal.
Kidney and Lima Beans
Kidney and Lima Beans
These legumes are good for you, unless they're prepared incorrectly. Soak red kidney beans for several hours to remove lectins, which can kill the cells in your stomach, and cook and drain lima beans thoroughly to get rid of the chemical compound, linamarin, which can turn into hydrogen cyanide.
Tuna
Tuna
You've likely heard about the dangers of mercury poisoning, and that's a big reason why you should be careful of your raw tuna intake — especially for children and pregnant women. Once ingested, it can cause itching, pain, high blood pressure and other dangerous symptoms.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg
You most likely already have nutmeg in your spice cabinet. Though it's great to have on-hand for baking, ingesting a significant amount can lead to like disorientation, hallucinations and hyper-excitation.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms
Not every mushroom is created equal. Crimini mushrooms might make perfect pasta toppers, but some species contain poisons that can kill.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes
The juicy, red fruit contains a poison, Glycoalkaloid, in its leaves, which is known for causing upset stomachs, severe cramping, and anxiety. So steer clear of the leaves and stems.
Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb Leaves
Rhubarb might bake up all kinds of delicious sweets, but the leaves are poisonous, causing breathing trouble, seizures, kidney failure, and in some cases, death.
Peanuts
Peanuts
One of the most common allergies is to peanuts. The most severe response is anaphylaxis, which can lead to severe constriction of the airways, shock, and even loss of consciousness. It is dangerous enough to cause death if left untreated, so know your allergies before stepping anywhere near these babies or their addictive friend, peanut butter.
Shellfish
Shellfish
A severe allergic reaction to shellfish can inhibit breathing and even be life-threatening.
Potatoes
Potatoes
Potatoes have both poisonous stems and leaves, but even so, potato poisoning is rare. Most potato-related deaths come from eating green potatoes, or drinking potato leaf tea.
Cherries
Cherries
Watch out for cherry seeds, which contain poisonous hydrogen cyanide.
Raw Meat and Uncooked Eggs
Raw Meat and Uncooked Eggs
Raw meat — including red meat, poultry, and seafood — and uncooked eggs can contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause gastroenteritis in humans. Salmonella poisoning can also lead to serious complications, such as bacteremia (when salmonella enters the bloodstream) that are life-threatening to people with weaker immune systems. So light a flame under your meat to avoid any risks.
Almonds
Almonds
This seed (it's not actually a nut) may pack in many health benefits — but they are also potentially full of poison. Bitter almonds, while in their raw form, are full of cynaide. They need to go through a specialized heat treatment (more than just your DIY oven roasting) in order to remove the toxins.
Hot Dogs
Hot Dogs
The ballpark favorite is the leading cause of choking fatalities among children, so watch your little ones when they scarf 'em down.
Stone Fruit Seeds and Apple Seeds
Stone Fruit Seeds and Apple Seeds
Apples and stone fruits — cherries, plums, apples, pears, peaches, and apricots — are nature's candy, but stay away from the seeds (as well as the bark and leaves). They contain amygdalin, a compound that produces cyanide. Large doses can lead to dizziness and vomiting, increased blood pressure, kidney failure, coma, and even death.
Elderberry
Elderberry
Berries are great, but the elderberry plant, used in medicinal syrups, sodas, and liquors can cause a severely upset stomach, so stay away from the stems and leaves.
Castor Oil
Castor Oil
Castor oil comes from the castor bean plant, which is loaded with the poison ricin. Make sure the beans your castor oil was made from adhered to all safety guidelines.
Fugu (Puffer Fish)
Fugu (Puffer Fish)
The puffer fish's skin and certain organs contain an extremely poisonous toxin that can paralyze a human and even cause death.
Ackee
Ackee
This pear-shaped fruit needs to ripen fully, as it contains toxins that can lead to death. Importation of the raw fruit is banned in the U.S, but you can buy it canned.
Honey
Honey
, poisonous toxins, are found in this sweet and sticky treat. If honey isn't pasteurized properly, eating it can lead to headaches, dizziness, weakness and vomiting — eating too much of it can be fatal.
Kidney and Lima Beans
Kidney and Lima Beans
These legumes are good for you, unless they're prepared incorrectly. Soak red kidney beans for several hours to remove lectins, which can kill the cells in your stomach, and cook and drain lima beans thoroughly to get rid of the chemical compound, linamarin, which can turn into hydrogen cyanide.
Tuna
Tuna
You've likely heard about the dangers of mercury poisoning, and that's a big reason why you should be careful of your raw tuna intake — especially for children and pregnant women. Once ingested, it can cause itching, pain, high blood pressure and other dangerous symptoms.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg
You most likely already have nutmeg in your spice cabinet. Though it's great to have on-hand for baking, ingesting a significant amount can lead to like disorientation, hallucinations and hyper-excitation.
Be cautious when eating these foods!
Turns out, there are plenty of , and many foods that often taste delicious can post a threat to your health if you're not careful. Do a sweep of your fridge and for these items to ensure safe eating.