Toxic root crops pose dangers
Food Standards Aust/NZ warns Pacific root crop casava and bamboo shoots must be prepared correctly
8 December 2004
A warning that the Pacific root crop casava and bamboo shoots could be health risks if not prepared correctly.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand says incorrect preparation could lead to exposure to naturally occurring hydrogen cyanide.
Spokesman Dr Paul Brent says casava needs to be peeled and sliced before being baked, boiled or roasted.
While outer leaves and fibrous tissue at the base of bamboo shoots need to be removed, the shoots need to be cut in half length ways then thinly sliced into strips and boiled for eight to 10 minutes in lightly salted water.
Dr Brent says toxins are removed from processed casava such as casava chips or casava flour and pose little or no health risk.
© 2009 NZCity, IRN
