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Beechnut Rice Cereal Baby Food Recall 2021: Reviews On What You Need To Know

Overview

Two disturbing Congressional baby food safety reports were released in February and September 2021, revealing that many of the most popular brands of baby foods were selling products that were tainted with dangerously high levels of toxic heavy metals.

Among the brand names mentioned were Gerber and Beechnut, well known for their baby and toddler food items.

The reviews and results of these reports are concerning because even low levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium can be detrimental to babies and growing toddlers.

Exposure to these heavy metals can cause permanent damage to your child’s brain development. It may lead to IQ decrease and behavioral issues. (1)(2)

New parents, and even unsuspecting seasoned parents, have enough worries on their plates regarding their children’s well-being to have to also think about issues of food contamination such as these.

In light of these recent findings, it’s becoming increasingly harder to trust big-name brands and the quality of their products.

Lawmakers and parents alike are now putting pressure on the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) to introduce stricter testing policies for companies such as Beech-Nut.

One of the main changes being pressed is to require baby food manufacturers to test the finished products for heavy metals rather than testing individual components before formulations are made.

Is There A Recall On 2021 Baby Food?

Despite the Subcommittee report showing that several products had high levels of heavy metals, Beech-Nut only issued this cereal recall:

Beech-Nut Single Grain Rice Cereal

  • Date Recalled: June 8, 2021
  • Company Name: Beech-Nut
  • Reasons For Recall: High arsenic levels
  • Affected Products: UPC Code# 52200034705; Product codes 103470XXXX and 093470XXXX; Expiration date of 01MAY2022 (3)
  • Return or Refund Processing: www. beechnut.com/ricecereal or 1-866-272-9417

Statement from Jason Jacobs, Beech-Nut’s vice president for food safety and quality: (4)

“The safety of infants and children is Beech-Nut’s top priority. We are issuing this voluntary recall because we learned through routine sampling by the State of Alaska that a limited quantity of Beech-Nut Single Grain Rice Cereal products had levels of naturally-occurring inorganic arsenic above the FDA guidance level, even though the rice flour used to produce these products tested below the FDA guidance level for inorganic arsenic.”

Beech-Nut In Subcommittee Congressional Report On Toxic Baby Foods

Which Baby Food Brands Are Toxic?

In a detailed Congressional Report on toxic products released last February 2021, the US Congress Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy asked the following baby food manufacturers for the test results of products reported to have high levels of toxic heavy metals: (5)

  • Beech-Nut Nutrition Company (Beech-Nut)
  • Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY and HappyTOT)
  • Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (Earth’s Best Organic)
  • Gerber
  • Campbell’s Plum Organics
  • Walmart Inc. (Parent’s Choice)
  • Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)

Of these seven baby food companies, only Beech-Nut, Gerber, Nurture, and Hain submitted test results and internal testing policies to the Subcommittee. The rest refused to cooperate. (5)

Despite complying with the Subcommittee’s request, the four companies remained under fire. Their test results showed heavy metal levels in their ingredients and baby food products were several times the FDA’s maximum allowable levels. (5)

Instead of meeting FDA’s standards, the baby food manufacturers created their own internal standards with increased limits that make it appear as if their products passed. In reality, their results are several times higher than the FDA standards. (5)

Is Beech-Nut Baby Food Safe?

According to the first Congressional Report, Beech-Nut declared that all its raw materials passed internal standards. But the company set very high internal maximum levels, so the ingredients actually failed government regulations. (5)

Inorganic Arsenic:

  • 300+ ppb in additives (used in different products)
  • 913.4 ppb in raw materials

Mercury:

  • The company doesn’t test products or ingredients for mercury.

Lead:

  • Up to 886.9 ppb (raw materials)

Cadmium:

  • Up to 344.55 ppb (raw materials)

Second Congressional Report

In September 2021, the Subcommittee submitted a follow-up report. It announced that the state of Alaska independently tested Beech-Nut baby food products and still found dangerously high levels of inorganic arsenic. (6)

Despite Alaska’s test results, the second Congressional baby food report revealed that Beech-Nut failed to notify the public or pull all those affected products from the market. (6)

Beech-Nut Rice Cereal (product codes 103470XXXX and 093470XXXX; expiration date of May 1, 2022) were recalled on June 8, 2021. (3)

But to date, no further Beech-Nut recalls have been announced, despite at least four other products also having high levels of arsenic. (6)

Does Beech-Nut have heavy metals?

The FDA sets the maximum limits in ppb (parts per billion) for infant rice cereal to 100 ppb inorganic arsenic, but the Beech-Nut rice cereals have more than this limit.

Three samples associated with the two recalled products tested by Alaska had the following inorganic arsenic levels: (6)

  • Product code 103470XXXX: 125 ppb
  • Product code 093470XXXX, sample 1: 122 ppb
  • Product code 093470XXXX, sample 2: 116 ppb

Aside from these samples from recalled products, Alaska reported four Beech-Nut rice cereal product codes that also tested over the FDA’s arsenic limits: (6)

  • 013470XXXX
  • 013351XXXX
  • 243470XXXX
  • 113470XXXX

Notably, there were two different samples for 243470XXXX from the same lot. Both showed high levels of inorganic arsenic. The Congressional Report stated that these results are proof that Beech-Nut should have issued a recall on this product code, too. (6)

Reducing Heavy Metals in Baby Food Products

Heavy metals could greatly affect the body and brain development of young children. So, Consumer Reports, the US PIRG (Public Interest Research Group), and other concerned groups call for the approval of the Baby Food Safety Act of 2021. (8)

It will require baby food manufacturers to test and disclose their results to parents and regulators. It will also direct the FDA to create and implement stricter heavy metal limits for baby foods. (8)

In response to public outcry, the FDA announced its action plan called “Closer to Zero.” It aims to reduce toxic elements from foods of babies and young children by lowering the allowable limits. (9)

If implemented, this could lower the limit to 15 ppb for infant cereal and 10 ppb in other baby foods, as proposed by the Baby Food Safety Act. (6)

If that happens, then Beech-Nut will need to pull more products off the shelves. Because even the rice cereal samples (product code 193470XXXX; arsenic level 52.2 ppb) with the lowest inorganic arsenic content have at least three times the allowable limit. (6)

What Is The Healthiest Baby Food Brand?

The following may be healthier alternatives to the unsafe products in the report:

  • Little Spoon (subscription-based organic baby food)
  • Yumi (subscription-based organic baby food)
  • Little Journey Organics
  • Once Upon A Farm
  • Serenity Kids

Preparing Healthier Alternatives At Home

You can also prepare fresh, organic baby foods at home using appliances you already have in your kitchen. Products like a Baby Brezza Small Baby Food Maker Set – Cooker and Blender can also help.

But a blender or simple food processor will also do the trick. No need to buy any new gadgets.

You can prepare healthy, fresh baby food at home using:

  • Whole or puréed vegetables and fruits
  • Raw yogurt or coconut yogurt
  • Quality meats, poultry, or fish
  • Bone broth
  • Healthy fats such as ghee, olive oil, or coconut oil
  • Quinoa
  • Eggs
  • Oats

Although sweet potatoes and carrots can also have high lead and cadmium levels, they are also important sources of vitamin A and other nutrients. Include these in your child’s diet in moderate amounts. (7)

It’s also best to avoid using rice and rice flour because they might have high cadmium, lead, and arsenic levels. (7)

Other Companies In Congressional Report On Toxic Baby Foods

The following companies were also listed on the Congressional reports: (5)(6)

Gerber Products Company

The company submitted test results for raw materials only, acknowledging that it doesn’t test finished products for heavy metal content. (5)

Mercury:

  • No test for mercury.

Inorganic Arsenic:

  • Up to 90 ppb (rice flour)

Lead:

  • Up to 48 ppb (sweet potatoes)

Cadmium:

  • Over 5 ppb in 75% of raw ingredients (carrots)
  • Up to 87 ppb (some carrot batches)
  • No test for cadmium in other raw materials or ingredients.

Nurture, Inc. (HappyBABY And Happy Family Organics)

Nurture regularly tests both ingredients and finished products for heavy metals, unlike the other baby food manufacturers in the Congressional Report.

But despite knowing that their finished products had high levels of heavy metals, Nurture continued to release them without any corrections. The company admitted that the heavy metal test results aren’t the basis for product release. (5)

Inorganic Arsenic:

  • Up to 100 ppb (over 25% of Nurture finished baby products)
  • Up to 160 (Strawberry & Beet Puffs)
  • Up to 160 (Banana & Pumpkin Puffs)
  • Up to 180 ppb (Apple & Broccoli Puffs)

Mercury:

  • Up to 9.8 ppb (Banana Sweet Potato)
  • Up to 10 ppb (Brown Rice Cereal Canister)

Lead:

  • Up to 10 ppb (Nurture vegetables and rice products)
  • Up to 560 ppb (Multi-Grain Cereal Canister)
  • Up to 641 ppb (Blueberry Purple Carrot)

Cadmium:

  • Up to 5 ppb (65% of Nurture products)
  • Up to 36 ppb (Strawberry Raspberry)
  • Up to 49 ppb (Multi-Grain Cereal Canister)

Hain Celestial Group, Inc.

(Earth’s Best Organic)

Hain admitted that it doesn’t test for actual heavy metal content but only makes “theoretical calculations” from ingredient results. (5)

Inorganic Arsenic:

  • Up to 309 ppb (ingredients)
  • Up to 129 ppb (finished products)

Mercury:

  • No test for mercury.

Lead:

  • Up to 352 ppb (raw materials)

Cadmium:

  • Up to 260 ppb (ingredients)

Campbell Soup Company (Plum Organics)

The company refused to provide the Subcommittee with their actual test results or internal standards, insisting that their finished products “meet criteria.” (5)

But data from Healthy Babies Bright Futures showed the following results for Just Sweet Potato Organic Baby Food: (7)

Mercury:

  • Less than 0.142 ppb

Inorganic Arsenic:

  • Up to 3.1 ppb

Lead:

  • Up to 5. 6 ppb

Cadmium:

  • Up to 2.3 ppb

Walmart Inc. (Parent’s Choice)

Walmart also refused to submit results or internal standards to the Subcommittee. These are data from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report: (7)

Inorganic Arsenic:

  • Up to 108 ppb (Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks)
  • Up to 56.1 ppb (Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)

Mercury:

  • Up to 2.05 ppb (Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks)
  • Up to 0.941 ppb (Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)

Lead:

  • Up to 26.9 ppb (Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks)
  • Up to 5.2 ppb (Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)

Cadmium:

  • Up to 26.1 ppb (Little Hearts Strawberry Yogurt Cereal Snack)
  • Up to 2.4 ppb (Organic Strawberry Rice Rusks)

Sprout Foods, Inc. (Sprout Organic Foods)

The company never responded to the Congressional Subcommittee. So, these results for Organic Quinoa Puffs Baby Cereal Snack – Apple Kale also come from the Healthy Babies Bright Futures report: (7)

Inorganic Arsenic:

  • Up to 107 ppb

Mercury:

  • Up to 1.31 ppb

Lead:

  • Up to 39.3 ppb

Cadmium:

  • Up to 41.5 ppb

REFERENCES

(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23570911/

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4418502/

(3) https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/beech-nut-nutrition-company-issues-voluntary-recall-one-lot-beech-nut-single-grain-rice-cereal-and

(4) https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/wellness/story/beech-nut-stop-selling-specific-baby-rice-cereal-78196121

(5) https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/2021-02-04%20ECP%20Baby%20Food%20Staff%20Report.pdf

(6) https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house. gov/files/ECP%20Second%20Baby%20Food%20Report%209.29.21%20FINAL.pdf

(7) http://www.healthybabyfood.org/sites/healthybabyfoods.org/files/2019-10/BabyFoodReport_FULLREPORT_ENGLISH_R5b.pdf

(8) https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2021/06/09/beech-nut-baby-food-recall-2021-rice-cereal-arsenic/7621243002/

(9) https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-shares-action-plan-reducing-exposure-toxic-elements-foods-babies-and-young-children

Beech-Nut Baby Food Lawsuits

Our law firm is handling Beech-Nut autism lawsuits in all 50 states. 

Current research and testing have shown that many commercial baby food products, including Beech-Nut baby food, are tainted with unsafe levels of heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium. These metals are very unhealthy and can cause neurologic disorders such as ADD and autism in developing children.

Our national product liability lawyers are currently accepting new cases from children who may have developed neurologic disorders (including autism or Attention Deficit Disorder) from consuming contaminated Beech-Nut baby foods.

Our baby food autism lawyers are talking to victims looking to file a Beech-Nut toxic baby food autism lawsuit. Call our attorneys today for a free consultation at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online. 

Congressional Report Finds Heavy Metals in Beech-Nut Baby Food

Lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium are elements referred to as toxic heavy metals and they are very harmful to the human body. Exposure to these elements has been specifically linked to neurological health conditions in children with developing brains. Sadly, a recent investigation by Congress has shown that we may have been feeding these toxic metals to our children for years without realizing it.

In the winter of 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy published a USHR Report entitled Baby Foods Are Tainted with Dangerous Levels of Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury (the “USHR Report”). The USHR Report detailed the results of the Subcommittee’s investigation into claims that Beech-Nut and many other commercial baby food brands were being sold with heavy metals above maximum safe limits.

The investigation fully confirmed that Beech-Nut and other major brands of baby foods “are tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury.” The USHR Report also noted the evidence showing that exposure to these contaminants is harmful to infant neurological development and brain function.

  • Tylenol autism lawsuits are also gaining currency in 2022 for mothers who took acetaminophen during pregnancy

Heavy Metal Levels in Beech-Nut Baby Foods

Baby food products from 7 of the largest manufacturers in the U.S., including Beech-Nut, were found to contain unsafe levels of heavy metals, according to the USHR Report. The USHR Report provided information on the exact level of toxins found in the various food brands based on testing. Beech-Nut was one of the worst brands when it came to levels of lead, arsenic, and cadmium. Beech-Nut brand foods had some of the highest levels of these three toxic metals, higher than any other brands.

  1. Arsenic Levels in Beech-Nut Baby Food

    Arsenic is considered the most hazardous of all the toxin heavy metals covered by the USHR Report. When children are exposed regularly to arsenic it is known to cause not only neurologic problems, but it can also damage the central nervous system.

    The maximum safe arsenic level for bottled water set by the FDA is 10 ppb (parts per billion). The USHR Report found that Beech-Nut used ingredients after they tested as high as 913 ppb arsenic – 91 times the FDA’s maximum safe limit.  Digest that: 91 times!  This was the highest arsenic level for any ingredient used by any manufacturer. The USHR Report also found that Beech-Nut regularly used “high-arsenic” additives that tested over 300 ppb (30 times the FDA limit).

  2. Lead Levels in Beech-Nut Baby Food

    Even at very small levels, lead is associated with a range of bad health outcomes, particularly neurologic and cognitive developmental issues in children. This is why lead is considered the second most harmful heavy metal regularly found in baby foods.

    5 ppb is the FDA’s maximum safe level of lead for drinking water. The USHR Report concluded that Beech-Nut used ingredients in its baby food containing as much as 886 ppb lead. That is a staggering 177 times the maximum safe lead levels set by the FDA. The USHR Report also noted that Beech-Nut used many ingredients with high-lead levels, including 89 that contained over 15 ppg lead, and 57 with over 20 ppb lead.

  3. Mercury Levels in Beech-Nut Baby Food

    After arsenic and lead, mercury ranks third as the most harmful of the heavy metals featured in the USHR Report on baby foods. According to various studies, prenatal exposure to mercury can lead to adverse neurologic development. Testing has also shown that high blood levels of mercury in toddlers have been positively associated with “autistic behaviors.”

    Even at extremely low levels, mercury can be harmful. The FDA has set the maximum safe level of mercury in drinking water at 2 ppb. The USHR Report states that Beech-Nut does not perform any testing for mercury in its finished products or ingredients, so we have no data of levels.

  4. Cadmium Levels in Beech-Nut Baby Food

    Cadmium exposure in children has been linked to the development of ADHA and lower IQ. The FDA's maximum safe limit for cadmium in drinking water is 5 ppb. The USHR Report found that Beech-Nut was one of the worst brands in terms of cadmium levels in its products. According to the report, Beech-Nut used 105 ingredients that tested over 20 ppb cadmium, and some of its ingredients tested as high as 344 ppb cadmium.

Heavy Metals in Beech-Nut Baby Food May Cause Autism and Other Conditions

The general toxic health effects of heavy metals are well recognized. Recently, however, a growing body of research is beginning to specifically connect exposure to these materials to autism, ADD, and other neurologic conditions. Numerous medical studies have made a connection between regular exposure to heavy metals during infancy and childhood and higher rates of autism.

A study published in 2014 sought to evaluate the impact of prenatal and early infancy exposures to mercury. The study results suggested that mercury exposure caused a twofold increase in the risk of developing both autism and ADD. Three years later in 2017, a similar study on children in Korea found the exact same association between mercury exposure and autism/ADD rates.

A possible connection between early-age exposure to arsenic e and higher autism rates was identified in a meta-analysis study conducted by a University of Buffalo research team and published in 2019. A more comprehensive study was published in 2020 which found the same positive association between autism and exposure to mercury, arsenic, and cadmium during infancy.

Beech-Nut Baby Food Autism Lawsuits

The USHR Report has led to a number of product liability lawsuits against Beech-Nut by parents claiming that their children developed autism (or other disorders) from heavy metals in commercial baby foods like Beech-Nut. Part of the basis for these lawsuits are the findings in the USHR Report which clearly show that Beech-Nut was aware of the fact that its baby food products contained heavy metals well above the maximum safe limits set by the FDA.

Hiring a Beech-Nut Baby Food Autism Lawyer

Since the USHR Report was published in February 2021, Beech-Nut Products Company has been named as a defendant in a number of consumer class action and product liability lawsuits involving toxic metals in baby food products.

Our firm is currently seeking Beech-Nut toxic baby food lawsuits. Call today for a free consultation at 800-553-8082 or reach out to us online. 

Beech nuts and their beneficial properties for women's health

Perhaps you haven't heard much about beech nuts, because you don't often see them in shop windows. And although it may be inferior in popularity to other nuts, it definitely does not lose in its beneficial effect on the body.

In this article:

Where does the sycamore come from? What is inside the beech nut How does the nut affect health?

Photo taken from open sources nine0003

The scientific name of the beech nut is Fagus sylvatica. And among the people you could hear how it is called chinarik. Mexico and the USA are considered to be the birthplace of beech groves in which chinariki grow. Beech nuts are grown in Asia and Europe, as well as Canada and North America.

Collect beechnuts during the velvet season - the end of August and the whole of September. The beech fruits themselves are somewhat similar to acorns, but differ in the shape in the form of triangles and small size - about 2 cm. And the taste of beech nuts resembles hazelnuts and walnuts, with hints of cedar. nine0003

Beech nuts have a long history. They were loved to be used as food in ancient Greece. And the Scandinavians baked bread using chopped nuts.

In France, they found an alternative use: they brewed fruits and made a drink to replace coffee. The Germans still add beech oil to their dishes to this day.

But you are probably interested in what it is good for the body.

What's inside the beech nut

The beech nut contains a lot of nutrients. Fatty acids occupy half of the entire composition of chinariki. In addition to them, the nut contains a lot of vegetable protein, dietary fiber and starch. nine0003

  • High-calorie beech nuts - 100 g contains 576 kcal. And in the recommended daily portion of 20 g there will be 115 kcal. If you follow the figure, such a portion of a healthy nut will be enough for you.
  • The content of protein in chinariki is 6 g, carbohydrates - 33.5 g, and fats - 50 g. Of these, saturated fatty acids 5.7 g, monounsaturated 22 g, polyunsaturated 20 g. Does not contain cholesterol, which makes it as useful and safe as possible.
  • 100 g of beech nuts contains: vitamin C - 15.5 mg, folic acid - 113 mcg, niacin - 0.87 mg. nine0028
  • Among the mineral elements in nuts, potassium is the leader - 1020 mg. There is also a lot of sodium - 38 mg, iron - 2.5 mg, calcium - 1 mg, manganese, zinc, copper, magnesium and phosphorus.

How does a nut affect health?

Beech nuts are real superfoods. So small and inconspicuous, but very valuable for your health. What are the best properties of beech nuts?

  • Improves digestion. The beech nut, despite its small size, is so rich in dietary fiber and fiber. They help your intestines do their job efficiently and without delay. This prevents bloating and constipation. nine0028

Chinariki contain enough water and dietary fiber. These components contribute to a good cleansing of the body and remove various toxins and uric acid.

How to cook beech nuts?

  • Antistress. Thanks to magnesium and potassium in the composition, beech nuts have soothing properties. Studies show that eating chinariki can reduce stress hormone levels.

Consumption of beech nuts promotes good blood circulation, and as a result, your body receives enough oxygen. nine0003

  • Activates the brain. Consuming foods rich in vitamin C, including beech nuts, is good for your brain health. It improves the activity of neurons in the brain and will help prevent Alzheimer's disease.

Beechnut provides the body with a third of the need for vitamin B9. Studies have shown that daily consumption of foods that are rich in folic acid reduces the likelihood of suffering from problems with cognitive impairment. nine0003

  • Strengthens the heart. Due to the high amount of dietary fiber in beech nuts, it is good for the cardiovascular system. Helps lower bad cholesterol in your body and increase good cholesterol levels.

Thanks to vitamin C, the walls of blood vessels are strengthened. And with the help of antioxidants, they are protected from damage by free radicals.

  • Strengthens the immune system. The beech nut will help to strengthen the immune system due to vitamin C and other antibacterial and antiseptic properties. Vitamin C helps improve your body's white blood cell count, which protects against bacteria and viruses. nine0028

Vitamin C actively fights the enemies of the immune system and prevents cell damage.

  • Reduces inflammation. The composition of the beech nut contains two trace elements important for your body: copper and manganese. Thanks to them, chinarik acts against inflammation, reduces pain and swelling.

According to healthy eating experts, by regularly eating a serving of beech nuts, you can prevent various types of inflammation, such as arthritis, inflammation of the skin and internal organs. nine0003

Super useful for women

You have already realized that nuts are a storehouse of vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for everyone's health. And for the health of the female body, the beech nut has at least three valuable properties.

  • Beech nut will help prevent anemia. Decreased iron levels are common in women. In many ways, the appearance of anemia depends on nutrition, lack of iron-containing foods in the diet.

Of course, beechnuts are not the only food to replenish iron in your body. But, nevertheless, iron in them is in a good amount. Therefore, by adding chinariki to your balanced diet, you can prevent anemia. nine0003

  • Helps prevent problems during pregnancy. Beech nuts contain folic acid or vitamin B9. It is associated with healthy childbearing and is widely used by doctors.

Research has shown that eating foods such as beech nuts can keep the mother healthy and reduce the risk of neurological damage to the fetus.

  • Chinarik will keep your skin healthy. Appearance is very important for every girl. The high content of ascorbic acid and niacin - vitamin B3 in beech nuts is very beneficial for your skin. nine0028

Regular consumption of a portion of beech nuts will help prevent various skin diseases, as well as age spots and wrinkles.

Harm of raw beech nuts

Have you already wanted to include these healthy nuts in your diet? Please note that beech nuts should not be eaten raw, as they contain tannins. These substances are neutralized during heat treatment.

Eating raw plane trees in large quantities can cause intestinal upset and poisoning. nine0003

Oxalic acid enters the body with a large number of plane trees. It is harmful to the skeletal system and teeth. And if there are problems with the urinary system, products with oxalic acid must be strictly limited, as it contributes to the deposition of kidney stones.

Another danger that beech nuts carry without heat treatment is the alkaloid fagin. It is toxic when ingested in large amounts and can cause vomiting and hallucinations. nine0003

No need to be afraid, just dry or roast beechnuts before eating and eat them in moderation.

beech nuts, raw, dried (en)

Health and nutrition facility

Institution health and nutrition

Health and Nutrition Institution

Switzerland

In autumn, beech nuts - beech fruits, cover the forest soil. They are highly nutritious and have a nutty flavor. nine0050

6.6%

Water

37

Macronutricment carbohydrates 37.35%

/07

Macronutricment protein 6.91%

9000 /56

Macronuturients 55.74%

9000 ω-6 (LC, 18.4G)

Omega-6 fatty acids, such as linolenic acid (LA)

 : Ω-3 (ALA,  1.7g)

Omega-3 fatty acids, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)

 = 11:

The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids should not exceed 5:1 in total. nine0165 Link to explanatory text .

Here the ratio of essential linoleic acid (LA) 18.39 g and essential alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) 1.7 g = 11:1
Total ratio of omega-6 = 18.39 g and omega-3 fatty acids = 1.7 g = 11:1.
On average, we need about 2 g of LA and ALA per day, from which a healthy body also produces EPA and DHA, etc.

  • x

    © CC-by-sa 3.0, Rasbak, Wikipedia Ripe beech nuts in shell on the table - Fagus spp. nine0028
Nutrient tables

Beech nuts (chinariki) are the fruits of the common beech ( Fagus sylvatica ). Triangular small beech nuts are usually located two in one cupule and are surrounded by a brown shiny shell.

General information:
Beech gives beech nuts only after 40 years, and the harvest is especially rich after a dry, hot year. Harvests are often interleaved, which means that a good year is followed by a small harvest of beechnuts. Beech nuts ripen in September and October. nine0003

Beech nuts are an important source of food for animals, but people also use this fruit in times of famine. Today, beech nuts can well enrich the autumn diet. They can be cooked deliciously like chestnuts, hazelnuts, acorns and other prefabricated fruits, or eaten to replenish energy reserves while walking through the forest.

From Wikipedia: Beech nut is the fruit (seed) of broad-leaved trees of the Beech genus of the Beech family ( Fagaceae ).

Nutlets acorn-shaped, trihedral, 10-15 mm long, with a woody shell, collected in pairs or four pieces in a 4-lobed shell called a cupule. The surface of the fruit is smooth, light brown, shiny. The kernel is white, sweet in taste .

Caution should be exercised when eating raw beechnuts. Their slight toxicity is explained by the fact that raw nuts contain alkaloids and fagin (from Latin Fagus - beech, another name for trimethylamine). Roasting or heating quickly for a few minutes destroys these toxic substances. nine0003

In addition, beech nuts contain oxalic acid. This can also be one of the causes of ailments after consuming them in large quantities.

Culinary uses:
The fruit is edible after toasting. ... A coffee drink is prepared from roasted grated nuts. Bread and various confectionery products are baked from beech fruits ground into flour. The kernel of the nut contains up to 47% beech oil, which in terms of its nutritional qualities is a substitute for cocoa butter. It can be used in the manufacture of sprats, sardines and other canned food. ... Beech kernels are also used to make caramel filling, various confectionery products, wine, alcohol, coffee substitute. nine0003

Whole nuts can also be combined well with other ingredients and added to salads. Lightly toasted beech nuts add a delicious nutty flavor to dishes.

Once the beechnuts have been harvested, they can be easily sorted with the following trick: put the nuts in a cup filled with water and wait until the heavy, full nuts sink. At the top, empty or rotten fruits will remain floating, which can be easily caught. In addition, wet beech nuts clean better. nine0003

Chemical composition:
They are rich in fat, they contain more than 40% fat, which consists of 75% unsaturated fatty acids and carbohydrates. Beechnuts are high in bitter-tasting tannin and may contain the poisonous alkaloid fagin (excessive consumption of which can cause intestinal upset, cramps or diarrhea, and nausea) that decomposes when toasted.

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