Eating Ginkgo Nuts: Despite their foul-smelling fruits and toxicity, these nuts are delightful to consume
The ginkgo tree, a living fossil that harks back to the Jurassic era, is the sole survivor of a group of primitive trees. One of its most distinctive features is the ginkgo nut, but it's not as appealing as it might seem.
The ginkgo nut, in reality, is the kernel of the ginkgo fruit. This nut is notorious for its lingering, extremely pungent odour, often compared to the smell of dog excrement or rotting flesh. Despite this, it has found its way into various markets around the world.
However, it's important to note that the ginkgo nut is not safe for consumption in its raw form. The toxins found in these nuts are primarily neurotoxic in nature, posing a significant risk to human health. The consumption of raw ginkgo nuts can lead to food poisoning, particularly for children who are more susceptible to its harmful effects.
The Hong Kong Centre for Food Safety (HCFS) has issued several warnings about the presence of 4-methoxypyridine (4'MPN) in ginkgo nuts, a compound known to cause food poisoning. Moreover, the HCFS advises against eating too many ginkgo nuts due to their dangerous poisoning effects.
When sold in markets, the smelly, pulpy exterior of the ginkgo nut is usually removed. However, this does not eliminate the presence of plant toxins, such as cyanogenic glycosides, which remain in the nut.
It's worth mentioning that the search results do not provide information about the origins of the individuals involved in research on the toxicity of Ginkgo seeds or the country where these studies were conducted.
Despite the potential dangers, the spelling of Ginkgo has undergone a change in the Oxford English Dictionary. It now accepts the spelling variation of Ginkgo as gingko.
In conclusion, while the ginkgo tree may be a fascinating relic of the past, it's crucial to exercise caution when it comes to consuming its nuts. It's best to avoid eating raw ginkgo nuts to ensure your safety and health.
