Half a billion people on Earth consume a deadly product

People sometimes like to treat themselves to something dangerous and exotic, to tickle their nerves and then talk about it. Everyone knows that the Japanese eat fugu fish, which sometimes causes death. But did you know that more than 500 million people on the planet regularly eat a deadly root vegetable? At the same time, the number of deaths from it is hundreds of times higher than the number of cases of poisoning from Japanese fish. We are talking about cassava - an important agricultural crop in many tropical countries.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cassava kills about 200 people every year. However, this figure does not seem frightening if you consider how many people cassava saves from starvation. Cassava, also known as cassava, is native to South America. But now it is also grown in Southeast Asia and Africa. Nigeria is considered the largest producer of cassava.

Cassava tubers are used as food, but they must be specially processed. This is extremely important, because this agricultural crop contains substances that form deadly hydrogen cyanide. Moreover, all parts of the plant are toxic: raw roots, bark and even leaves.

Bitter varieties of cassava are especially dangerous. They can contain up to 1,000 milligrams of poison per kilogram of weight. The problem is solved by soaking cassava in water for 24 hours. After such treatment, the risk of poisoning is significantly reduced, although it does not disappear completely.

Statistics show that cases of cassava poisoning increase during food crises. Then people often eat bitter cassava, which is highly saturated with cyanide, without the time or opportunity to cook it properly. This was the case in 2017 during the crisis in Venezuela. Maybe it would be worthwhile to find a substitute for cassava? But it’s not that simple.

The cassava bush is unpretentious and produces an excellent harvest. It tolerates drought well, which is especially important for many regions. In addition, it is rarely affected by diseases, and pests bypass it. Tubers, rich in fiber and starch, can reach a weight of 10 kilograms. However, such large root crops are usually not eaten, since old tubers are inferior to young ones in taste.

Unfortunately, half a billion people on the planet are forced to eat cassava. They simply have no other choice. For these people, cassava is a staple crop, just like wheat or potatoes for us. Growing something else that is guaranteed to yield a good harvest in tropical conditions is extremely difficult. Cassava has become part of their lives, and they know how to handle these insidious tubers.

After soaking, cassava is fried or boiled. It is also used to make flour, which is used to bake bread or flatbreads. Tapioca is also made from cassava. Yes, what many consider to be cereal is actually a product made from dangerous tubers.

Cassava is rich in vitamins B, C, A, K and E, and also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese and selenium. In addition, it contains the valuable antioxidant resveratrol, which slows down aging.

Cassava is both a salvation from hunger and a threat to life. Despite the risk of poisoning, it remains an indispensable food product for millions of people in tropical countries. What do you think, can humanity find a safer alternative to cassava, or is its cultivation and consumption inevitable for survival in difficult conditions? Share your opinion in the comments!