6月7日，德國(guó)聯(lián)邦風(fēng)險(xiǎn)評(píng)估所(BFR)警示消費(fèi)者關(guān)注杏仁（apricot kernel）食品的潛在毒性，尤其是不要從互聯(lián)網(wǎng)上購(gòu)買?？嘈尤嗜缃裨跉W盟已成為一種比較受歡迎的食品，而且許多廠家還稱其是可以抗癌的健康食品。根據(jù)BfR的評(píng)估報(bào)告，這些說(shuō)法是不正確的，誤導(dǎo)了消費(fèi)者?？嘈尤屎懈吆康目嘈尤受眨╝mygdalin），苦杏仁苷在人體內(nèi)消化時(shí)會(huì)釋放出有毒物質(zhì)—氫氰酸（Hydrocyanic acid），導(dǎo)致人體出現(xiàn)抽筋、嘔吐等中毒癥狀甚至死亡。建議消費(fèi)者少食甚至不食苦杏仁。美國(guó)曾禁止過(guò)一些標(biāo)簽不規(guī)則的苦杏仁產(chǎn)品，英國(guó)于去年開(kāi)始關(guān)注，目前正在討論制定相關(guān)規(guī)則。

Germany issues warning on Internet apricot kernels

8/6/2007 - The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) yesterday warned consumers about buying potentially poisonous apricot kernel snacks over the internet.

Bitter apricot kernels have become popular throughout the EU as a snack. Regulators have been concerned about the way companies have been promoting the kernels as a health food.

Several websites have claimed that amygdalin fights cancer cells. According to the BfR report, these health claims are unsubstantiated, and could "irresponsibly" encourage ill people to buy them.

Bitter apricot kernels have a high level of amygdalin. Hydrocyanic acid, which is toxic, is released from the glycoside amygdalin during digestion. This acid can lead to symptoms of poisoning like cramp, vomiting and respiratory distress, and may even provoke fatal respiratory paralysis at high doses.

The BfR scientific report said that eating more than only a few kernels per day can lead to the onset of these acute poisoning symptoms.

"Consumers should not, therefore, eat more than one or two bitter apricot kernels a day, or even none at all for precautionary reasons," the BfR advises.

It recommends that at the very least all customers should be made aware of the possible side-effects when they buy the product.

"At all events, consumers should be informed about the dangers of poisoning through warnings on the packaging", said Andreas Hensel, BfR's president.

The BfR is particularly concerned about the irregularity in the way the product is being packaged and sold over the internet. It is difficult for official food control authorities to control this distribution channel. The packs on sale differ in size and only some carry information about health risks, the report states.

Apricot kernels have caused concern for food agencies in the past, and several US food control authorities have banned the sale of inadequately labelled products.

In the UK, the Food Standard Agency expressed concern in April 2006 that when ingested, bitter apricot kernels can produce cyanide, and measures to regulate the direct consumption of bitter apricot kernels are currently being discussed on the European level.