PSA: don't overdo it on black licorice

[Craig234]

Who knew?

Massachusetts Man Dies From Eating Too Much Black Licorice

A Massachusetts construction worker's love of black licorice wound up costing him his life.

boston.cbslocal.com

 

[pcgeek11]

I have heard that years ago. Bad for the heart and blood pressure... My wife loves it but has to only eat it in small doses due to her Blood Pressure and Potasium Levels.

You are right and it should be publicized better.

 

[DigDog]

Licorice is also a laxative. And, the reason why i'm in this thread in the first place, i immediately imagined Craig epic tale of being stuck to a toilet seat for an entire day.

I have to say, i am disappointed.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I ate a whole package at work a while back.

The next day was.... interesting. Nothing super crazy or anything but lets just say the colour of the input matched the output.

 

[pete6032]

Licorice is also a laxative. And, the reason why i'm in this thread in the first place, i immediately imagined Craig epic tale of being stuck to a toilet seat for an entire day.

I have to say, i am disappointed.

There were no good desserts around so he had to eat a whole bag of black licorice instead.

 

[GrumpyMan]

That is the one flavor that I have always hated. No way Jose!

 

[KMFJD]

double salted licorice (salmiak) is the best

 

[Kaido]

"Eating as little as 2 ounces of black licorice a day for two weeks could cause a heart rhythm problem, especially for folks over 40, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. “It’s more than licorice sticks. It could be jelly beans, licorice teas, a lot of things over the counter. Even some beers, like Belgian beers, have this compound in it,” as do some chewing tobaccos, said Dr. Robert Eckel, a University of Colorado cardiologist and former American Heart Association president. He had no role in the Massachusetts man’s care."

WHAT

 

[nakedfrog]

A lot of black licorice candy barely has any actual black licorice in it, and often times you'll encounter deglycyrrhizinated licorice.

I'm a black licorice aficionado

 

[Red Squirrel]

I should be dead according to that.

16oz in one package.

 

[zinfamous]

yes, we know.

I believe it's the Danish? that are fricking addicted to real licorice, to the degree that the potency of their licorice is banned from importation to the US and other countries, because it is "not safe."

Isn't the real stuff derived from the nightshades? That would explain it, I suppose.

and, IIRC, "black licorice" is redundant. licorice is licorice. all that red shit or whatever is some other corn syrup product that is dyed more appealing colors, and only to resemble the typical US "licorice straws," right? I don't think proper licorice is commonly found in straws? I could be wrong.

 

[zinfamous]

"Eating as little as 2 ounces of black licorice a day for two weeks could cause a heart rhythm problem, especially for folks over 40, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. “It’s more than licorice sticks. It could be jelly beans, licorice teas, a lot of things over the counter. Even some beers, like Belgian beers, have this compound in it,” as do some chewing tobaccos, said Dr. Robert Eckel, a University of Colorado cardiologist and former American Heart Association president. He had no role in the Massachusetts man’s care."

WHAT

oh fuck me in the pooper--don't take away my Belgian Beers!

 

[Fritzo]

Yep. Always been a thing. Sassafrass is in that same category...maybe worse since they ended up taking off the market. I think they have a safe version out now though.

Cassava, which makes tapioca, can produce toxic levels of cyanide if not properly processed. All these damned sweets are going to kill you!

 

[nakedfrog]

I should be dead according to that.

16oz in one package.

Those are Twizzlers, not black licorice.

 

[Craig234]

and, IIRC, "black licorice" is redundant. licorice is licorice. all that red shit or whatever is some other corn syrup product that is dyed more appealing colors, and only to resemble the typical US "licorice straws," right? I don't think proper licorice is commonly found in straws? I could be wrong.

The article appears to disagree with you, and googling says that licorice (black) twizzlers have glycyrrhizic acid, while other flavors dont.

 

[KMFJD]

I should be dead according to that.

16oz in one package.

Hershey’s responds to FDA’s warning over eating too much black licorice

As it turns out, you really can overdose on candy, more specifically, black licorice, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

www.foxbusiness.com

you're safe - Twizzlers Black Licorice contains a very small amount of licorice extract and the glycyrrhizin levels are well below the U.S. FDA's limits (3.1% glycyrrhizin in soft candy)

i'd think the issue would be mainly with the real stuff, not the candy knock-offs

 

[pmv]

I just saw a report on that, and came here to post about it. Have to say I wasn't at all aware that licorice had that danger. Fortunate I've never particularly liked it (I do tend to overdo the foodstuffs I like...mainly apples and yoghurt...I could imagine ending up like that guy in the story if I actually liked the stuff).

What other foods is this glycyrrhizic acid in?

 

[Craig234]

What other foods is this glycyrrhizic acid in?

I've only seen the list in the article, including jelly beans (presumably licorice ones), Belgian beer, and some chewing tobacco... since it appears to come from the licorice, it's an issue for foods with licorice.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Watch out for the red rope licorice too...

 

[Iron Woode]

Canada's best black licorice company is no more.

Y&S made the best old fashioned black licorice candies - cigars and pipes.

 

[lxskllr]

Isn't the real stuff derived from the nightshades? That would explain it, I suppose.

Not a nightshade, but that's kind of a meaningless distinction anyway. It's enough to make you go "Hmm..." if offered an unknown plant, but the nightshades have a heavy presence in the supermarket.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I think the real problem here is that the black licorice tends to be much longer and thicker than the white. We need to keep our women safe from falling victim to this dangerous licorice.

 

[Spacehead]

Of all the things to OD on, this would be one of the last for me so i'm good.

 

[Iron Woode]

Isn't the real stuff derived from the nightshades? That would explain it, I suppose.

no, it's actually a legume - related to beans:

Liquorice - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[zinfamous]

The article appears to disagree with you, and googling says that licorice (black) twizzlers have glycyrrhizic acid, while other flavors dont.

Calling Twizzlers, licorice, is like calling Hershey's, chocolate. get out of here with that noise.