Canadian Press carries an alert from the Food Inspection Agency recalling Apricot Power brand apricot seeds and apricot seed meal because of concerns about cyanide poisoning. Apricot Power products are made by Ecoideas Innovations Inc. in Markham. The dangerous ingredient is the natural toxin amygdalin. The agency says the compound has the potential to release cyanide when the bitter apricot seed kernels are ingested. It says humans can “detoxify” small amounts of cyanide but high amounts can be lethal. No illnesses have been associated with the products. Unclear is why just this brand is named in a recall if the issue is a natural phenomenon common to apricot seeds. Symptoms of acute cyanide poisoning include headache, dizziness, confusion, weakness, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, seizures and coma.
