Carcinogenic plant poison in organic baby tea

Organic baby tea loaded with dangerous plant poison

04/10/2014

The detection of carcinogenic substances in organic baby tea by the ZDF consumer magazine „WISO“ worries many parents, even if the affected manufacturers have already reacted and the products have been taken out of the market. In several baby teas, the consumer magazine had detected so-called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). A plant poison, according to the information „of the Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR) damage the organism and cause liver tumors in long and high doses“ can, so the message of the ZDF magazine.

A total of 19 baby herbal teas from the discounter, from pharmacies and drugstores, the ZDF consumer magazine has been tested in the laboratory for carcinogenic substances. Including organic, as well as conventionally grown baby tea, soluble tea and bag tea. Examination of the sample showed that four of the 19 herbal baby teas were loaded with PA and that „sometimes in very high quantities“, reported „WISO“. The good news, however, was that 15 products were completely unloaded.

Two organic baby teas heavily loaded
The proven „Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are genotoxic, that is mutagenic, they are carcinogenic and they can be teratogenic, so fetotoxic, damaging to the unborn life“, explains the PA expert Dr. Helmut Wiedenfeld from the University of Bonn in the contribution of the ZDF consumer magazine. The fact that four organic products contained the plant toxin is particularly critical, since many parents are deliberately opting for organically grown food in order to avoid possible health risks. In the interview with ZDF itself, some of the manufacturers concerned were shocked by the evidence of the plant poison in their products, and all affected companies have since withdrawn their products from the market. Two were lower (Lebensbaum, Baby tummy tea and Salus, Babytee herbal tea) and two very high (Sonnentor / Sonnenkind Babytee Bio-Bengelchen and Alnatura, Baby herbal tea).

Plant toxins arrive at the harvest in the tea
The PA burden of Babytees is, according to the ZDF magazine by „weed“ such as the ragweed, which arrives at the tea harvest between the tea herbs. In careless picking or the use of harvesters such admixtures are quite common. However, a more careful approach could avoid the burden. Organic baby tea is particularly affected, because on the organic acreage and the carriers of the plant poison PA thrive particularly well, explains the ZDF consumer magazine on. The article also criticizes the fact that the problem has been known since the summer of 2013 and that the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has discovered surprisingly high levels of PA using a new method in tea. All varieties are burdened. Although the BfR already in 2007, a zero tolerance limit for PA in food and feed required, but now recommend the authority not even limit values, so the accusation in the contribution of the ZDF magazine.

Missing limits for the PA load
So far, only maximum levels of PA exposure have been set, which the manufacturers should not exceed as far as possible, and even for babies there is no clear regulation, reports Dr. med. Helmut Wiedenfeld and adds: „It must be ruled out in baby tees that PA are present in any concentration.“ Here, in his view, PA freedom should be guaranteed and, given the potential health risks of children, it should be given at this point „no ifs and no buts.“ The Pyrrolizidinalkaloide remain a dangerous poison, especially for frequent drinkers and children. (Fp)