Warning about poisonous Turkish rhododendron honey

The Hessian Ministry of Consumer Affairs is currently warning against the consumption of rhododendron honey from Turkey. The consumption of honey can lead to severe poisoning.

(17.09.2010) Currently the Hessian Ministry of Consumer Protection is warning against the consumption of Turkish rhododendron honey. Toxic phytochemicals have been found in a laboratory sample, which can lead to severe signs of intoxication in humans, such as abdominal pain, gastrointestinal complaints, dizziness, skin irritations such as itching and redness as well as increased salivation. The poisonous plant substances would be contained in flowers, leaves and pollen of the rhododendron plant. By insects such as bees, the toxic substances have got into the honey. The sale of honey takes place mainly in Turkish grocery stores. The honey comes from the Turkish Black Sea coast.

A physician from Hesse had alarmed the health authorities after numerous patients with similar symptoms of poisoning visited his practice. The patients had all previously eaten the honey. In later laboratory tests of the Hessian state laboratory, the toxic plant substance grayanotoxin was detected. According to the Federal Institute for Risk Research, even a small amount (5 grams) is enough to cause health problems in humans. Consumers should therefore no longer eat the honey and dispose of it in the trash. With a higher amount of toxic plant substances in immuno-weakened patients far worse conditions may occur. (Sb)

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Picture: Sascha Arnold