Over 200 people are killed by the “world’s deadliest food” every year, but almost 500 million people still eat it.
No doubt there are many foods in the world that would make you feel full very quickly, but you do not usually find those at the dinner table every night.
Now let us talk about real food that a lot of people around the world eat. What is it?
As both a plant and a food, cassava is an important part of many people’s diets. Every year, 500 million people eat it, and hundreds of millions of tonnes are grown.
Cassava is a plant that grows naturally in South America. It is a famous food and a mainstay of many people’s diet, but it can be very dangerous.
You see, the plant’s stems, peel, and leaves are all poisonous and can make hydrogen cyanide, so they should not be eaten raw.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that about 200 people die every year from eating poisoned cassava. This is why it is called the “world’s deadliest food.”
Cassava contains cyanogenic glucosides, which can be toxic if not processed properly. The World Health Organization warns that improper preparation can lead to high cyanide exposure, causing acute poisoning and diseases like konzo—a paralysis disorder linked to malnutrition and extreme poverty. Despite its risks, millions consume cassava safely by preparing it correctly. Proper processing, such as soaking for up to 24 hours, reduces toxicity. In Venezuela, food shortages led people to eat unsafe cassava, worsening health issues. Ensuring cassava safety requires careful preparation to remove toxins and make it a reliable food source.
