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Health hazards Many herbal and peppermint teas contain plant toxins
Many people assume that they do something healthy for their body when they drink herbal tea. New research by the NDR have now revealed that the herbal teas of many well-known manufacturers are burdened with plant toxins.
Herbal and peppermint tea is usually said to have a positive effect on our human health. But this widespread opinion does not always seem right. In a test experts from the economic and consumer magazine "market" of the NDR found that some herbal teas from well-known manufacturers were heavily contaminated with plant toxins.
Many herbal teas contain residues of plant toxins that can cause health problems. (Image: torsakarin / fotolia.com) In four of six herbal teas Pyrrolizidinalkaloide demonstrated
The current laboratory analysis showed that herbal teas are often contaminated with plant toxins. Partly the impurities are so strong that the consumption of such products can certainly be classified as hazardous to health, reports the economic and consumer magazine "Markt". In a sample of four out of six herbal teas, they had discovered so-called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). These alkaloids are estimated to be present in about three percent of all flowering plants. The plants use such toxins to protect themselves against predators and pests. "PA" are water soluble and temperature resistant. The high concentration in herbal and peppermint tea could lead to liver damage or even to liver cancer, warned the experts from the NDR.
Toxicologist explains: Low levels of plant toxins can cause cancer
Three different brands of peppermint tea and herbal mixtures were examined for the test. The tested varieties were: "Yes! Peppermint "by Rewe," Mint "by Teekanne," Westminster Peppermint "by Aldi," Kloster Kräuter Kräuter "by Edeka," Kräuter pur spicy frisch "by Meßmer and" Lord Nelson 6 Kräuter "by Lidl. The prices of the varieties were between 49 cents and 1.99 euros. The toxicologist Prof. Edmund Maser of the Kiel-based Christian Albrechts University explained in an interview to the consumer magazine "market" that even the smallest amounts of "PA" are sufficient to cause cancer in humans. Any food should not contain traces of "PA," warned the doctor. The poisons are contained in the weeds that grow between the tea herbs. In a mechanical harvest, such weeds can then mistakenly fall between the harvested tea plants.
Large quantities of herbal poisons in private label teas from Rewe and Edeka
For pyrrolizidine alkaloids there is no legal limit. Nevertheless, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has set a so-called maximum intake quantity. According to this, an adult human should consume a maximum of 0.42 micrograms of "PA" a day, warns the consumer magazine "Markt". The lab determined in the tests that, for example, the peppermint tea of the Rewe Private Label, one cup contained a "PA" value of 0.67 micrograms. Thus, already one cup of beverage exceeds the maximum intake per day. The company had informed on request that already at the present time extensive measures to minimize the "PA" content would be carried out, reports the NDR. Even with the herbal mixtures it did not look much better. For example, Edeka's own brand contained 0.36 micrograms of pyrrolizidine alkaloids per cup. The amount contained is quite suitable to quickly reach the recommended maximum intake, warned the toxicologist Prof. Maser. Edeka stated that there are no specific legal limits for this type of product. Nevertheless, the company would try to implement a concept with its suppliers that aims to minimize "PA" in herbal teas.
Two teas in the test contained no plant toxins
Also in other peppermint and herbal teas toxins were found. In the case of the peppermint tea of Aldi and the herbal tea of Meßmer, plant poisons were also found, but the observed values were lower. Aldi's product contained 0.02 micrograms of "PA" per cup. 0.005 micrograms of the poison were found in Meßmer's tea, the NDR reports. Also in these cases, the companies concerned informed the NDR that the necessary measures had already been taken to reduce the levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Fortunately, there were also two tested brands that contained no toxins. Both the teapot peppermint tea, and the herbal tea Lord Nelson von Lidl would have no burden of plant toxins, explained the scientists of the "market".