18 Delicious But Dangerous Foods In Your Kitchen That Can Kill Humans If Not Prepared Properly

In the age of convenience where supermarkets are only a phone call away, nobody shies away from experimenting with a dish or two be it banana bread, maggie with ketchup or the combination that has become the talk of every town, pineapple on pizza. 

While curiosity is a part of the kit, humans should not forget about the foods that can kill them. Especially the ones that are lying in their kitchen. 

Some staples can turn into the most dangerous foods and pose a threat to your health if you’re not careful. 

1. Tomato Leaves

The red fruit is juicy but its leaves contain a poison called Glycoalkaloid. It can cause an upset stomach, anxiety and severe cramping. So no experimenting with tomato leaves and stems.

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2. Microwave Popcorn

The problem isn’t the kernels but the bag they come in. The chemical used in the bag’s nonstick coating decomposes and creates a compound called perfluorooctanoic acid. 

This acid has been linked to both prostate and liver cancer. 

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3. Peanuts

A lot of people are allergic to peanuts. The most severe response is anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause shock, loss of consciousness, even death.

So know your allergies before stepping anywhere near these addictive babies (peanut butter included). If you’re not allergic to tree nuts, try almond butter.

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4. Potato Leaves & Stems

Potato poisoning isn’t very common, but even so, potato stems and leaves are poisonous. Most potato-related deaths come from drinking potato leaf tea or eating green potatoes. Make sure you bake, cook, boil or fry your potatoes properly before consuming them.

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5. Cherry Seeds

Cherry seeds contain a highly toxic conjugate acid, hydrogen cyanide. It particularly affects the organ systems that are most sensitive to low oxygen levels—the central nervous system (brain), the pulmonary system (lungs) and the cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels). So no gulping the seeds.

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6. Uncooked Eggs & Raw Meat

Uncooked eggs and raw meat—including red meat, seafood and poultry—can contain salmonella bacteria. 

Salmonella poisoning can lead to serious complications such as bacteremia that are life-threatening for people who have weaker immune systems. So never leave your meat uncooked. 

7. Processed Meat

According to the National Cancer Institute, meats that contain nitrites and nitrates like bacon have been linked to colon cancer. So chances are that your favourite, processed bacon might not be that good for your body.

8. Bitter Almonds

Raw almonds, a type of seed that has many health benefits, are also potentially full of poisonous cyanide. Bitter almonds in their raw form need to go through specialised heat treatment (not your regular DIY roasting) in order to get rid of toxins.

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9. Apple Seeds

Stone fruits—apples, cherries, plums, peaches, apricots and pears—contain the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, which makes them so irresistible but steer clear of the seeds, barks and leaves. 

They contain amygdalin, a compound that produces cyanide. Large doses of which can lead to vomiting, dizziness, high blood pressure, kidney failure, coma and even death. 

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10. Castor Oil

The Castor bean plant—which is used to extract nutrition-rich castor oil—is loaded with the poison ricin. The beans your castor oil was made from must adhere to all safety guidelines.

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11. Honey

If one of your favourite sweet and sticky treats, honey isn’t pasteurised properly, eating it can lead to headaches, dizziness, weakness and vomiting. It contains poisonous toxins called pyrrolizidine alkaloids and eating too much of it can be fatal.

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12. Kidney Beans

The legumes are packed with protein and they’re good for you as long as you cook them properly. 

Soak kidney beans overnight to remove lectins, which can kill your stomach cells. Cook and drain thoroughly to get rid of linamarin, a chemical compound that can turn into hydrogen cyanide.

13. Nutmeg

A rare gem in your spice cabinet, nutmeg is great for baking or for a hair mask but ingesting a significant amount can lead to psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, hyper-excitation and disorientation. 

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14. Cashew

Cashew shells can burn your skin and upset your stomach as they carry anacardic acid. Cashews must be boiled or roasted before you eat them. In the raw state, they have urushiol, a chemical that can cause rashes or even death depending on the quantity consumed.

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15. Bean Sprouts

Sprouts are considered the healthiest form of crunchy salads and are usually consumed raw or cooked lightly. But they can also cause food poisoning as the bacteria thrive in a warm, humid environment and sprouts grow in such conditions.  

When cooked properly, the harmful bacteria can be killed as light cooking can’t prevent foodborne illnesses like salmonella, listeria, diarrhoea and e.coli.

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16. Raw Milk

The milk available in the grocery stores is pasteurized but some people consume raw milk, which is risky. It can put children at a major risk of deadly diseases like listeria and E.coli.

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17. Unpasteurized Cheese

Much like raw milk, unpasteurized cheese can host deadly foodborne bacteria and illnesses. 

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18. Chilli Peppers

A piece or two won’t kill you but peppers contain a chemical called capsaicin. It’s responsible for the spicy flavour and is also used in pepper spray. Consuming a lot of pepper can constrict your lungs.

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Don’t just eat them. Eat them right! 

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