Licorice Is Tasty, But It Just Might Kill You
Here's some depressing news from Food Consumer, just in time for Halloween: Licorice can cause irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia, and now the FDA encourages only moderate consumption of the jet-black candy.
Niznoz/Flickr Trick-or-tachycardia?
According to the FDA report, if you're 40 or older, eating two ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital. However, many licorice-flavored candies are "licorice flavor" sweets produced here that don't actually contain the dangerous compound glycyrrhizin. Instead, they are made with anise oil, which has the same smell and taste. You can still gorge on them (though your dentist might say otherwise).
With Halloween around the corner, the FDA offers these words of advice: "No matter what your age, don't eat large amounts of black licorice at one time." So don't go and give out black licorice to all the trick-or-treaters, OK? In addition to potentially killing them, you'll be the lame person who thought only of herself by doling out a candy that tastes good to, oh, one out of 10 children.
For more dining news, head to Fork in the Road, or follow us @ForkintheRoadVV, or me @ldshockey.
Write Comment
Email to Friend
Print Article
