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Bitter taste Threatening poisoning of lupine seeds
Lupine seeds have become increasingly popular in recent years. The healthy legumes are already referred to by some people as the new soy. However, experts now point out that lupine seeds have often been poisoned in the past.
Schnitzel and ice cream from lupines
For many people who want to keep their meat consumption low or who eat vegetarian or vegan, often come to the table, which are produced from soy or milk protein. Some people do not like it that much. Not only for them are lupines a suitable substitute. Schnitzel, sausages, flour and ice are produced from the plant. In some cases, the consumption of legumes may also lead to health problems.
Lupines have been increasingly used in food production for several years. With bitter taste, however, caution is advised: Bitter lupine seeds have already led to some poisoning. (Image: luismolinero / fotolia.com) Symptoms of intoxication by bitter lupine seeds
As reported by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in a recent communication, data from approximately 30 specific cases with poisoning symptoms of varying degrees of severity, caused by bitter lupine seeds, were submitted to the Institute by the Poison Information Centers for the period 2010-2016.
"When buying unprocessed lupine seeds, it is usually hard to see whether they are bitter lupine seeds that contain toxic alkaloids or sweet lupine seeds that can be eaten without further processing," said BfR President Professor Dr. med. Dr. Andreas Hensel.
According to BfR, a bitter taste of lupine seeds or the products made from them can be an indicator of the presence of undesirable lupine alkaloids.
The bitter-tasting soaking water of lupine seeds should never be eaten or used to prepare food.
Laymen should refrain from their own debittering of lupine seeds
The seeds of lupines have been increasingly used in food production for several years - for example, for the production of gluten-free bakery and pasta or dietary products for milk protein allergy sufferers.
Lupine products are very proteinic. Lupine seeds contain little fat and no gluten, but lots of fiber. Since the seeds are also almost purine-free, they are also suitable for gout patients.
Depending on their species and origin, they may contain bitter quinolizidine alkaloids. If these are not properly removed in a so-called "debittering process", they can trigger poisoning symptoms in humans that affect the nervous, circulatory and digestive systems.
"The BfR recommends that consumers who do not have their own expertise have recourse to products that are clearly labeled as sweet-lupine seeds or already debittered bitter-lupine seeds, and to refrain from debittering lupine seeds," Hensel said. (Ad)