Health risk Again dangerous plant poisons in herbal teas

Herbal and chamomile tea from well-known manufacturers contaminated with plant toxins

Although experts have been calling on suppliers of herbal teas to pay more attention to the cultivation and harvesting of plants for herbal tea and tea production for many years, dangerous plant toxins are repeatedly detected in teas. So also in a recent research of the Norddeutscher Rundfunk.

Herbal teas contaminated with pollutants

For several years now, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has been calling on suppliers of herbal teas to take care when growing and harvesting plants for herbal tea and tea production. Nevertheless, there are always headlines such as: Many chamomile and herbal teas contaminated with pollutants, organic herbal baby teas charged with carcinogenic substances, or: harmful substances found in black tea. A recent research by the Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) shows that herbal and chamomile tea from well-known manufacturers are partially contaminated with plant toxins.

Research and random samples of the NDR consumer magazine "Market" have shown that various herbal teas of well-known manufacturers are so heavily contaminated with plant toxins that their consumption is classified as hazardous to health. (Image: nixki / fotolia.com)

Classified as hazardous to health

"Herbal teas of well-known manufacturers are partly contaminated with plant toxins to such an extent that their inclusion is classified as a health concern," writes the NDR on its website.

This was the result of research and random sampling by the NDR consumer magazine "Markt".

According to a laboratory analysis in six of thirteen common herbal and chamomile teas from supermarkets and discounters in a sample so-called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) were discovered.

These substances can cause liver damage and liver cancer.

Mutagenic and carcinogenic effects

"PA are secondary ingredients that are made by plants to repel predators. In foods, they are undesirable because they damage the liver and showed mutagenic and cancer-causing effects in animal experiments, "writes the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) in a statement.

"Herbal teas contaminated with PA, including rooibos tea, as well as black and green tea and honey are the main sources that allow consumers to ingest PA. The amounts of PA contained in these foods can be harmful to both children and adults with prolonged (chronic) intake, "it continues.

"There is a possibility that the smallest amounts are enough to cause cancer," said Prof. Edmund Maser of the Institute of Toxicology, Kiel University, according to NDR.

The toxicologist claims that all foods - including teas - should be free of PA.

According to the information, the toxins are contained in weeds, which grow between the tea herbs and can enter the tea with the harvest.

No legal limit

Although there is no statutory limit for PA in food, BfR has calculated a maximum intake level. It is 0.49 micrograms per day for a 70-kilogram adult.

However, the laboratory commissioned by "Markt" has measured values ​​of up to 1.7 micrograms PA per liter.

With a large cup of tea you would have reached the maximum intake after that.

Three peppermint teas and three herbal mixtures examined

According to NDR, the companies concerned reacted differently when confronted with the results.

Some companies pointed out that there is no legal limit, others said they were already pursuing a minimization concept for their teas.

Three peppermint teas and three herbal mixtures were examined: "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. (Ad)