| Watch Out for Kidney Beans |
| According to the U.S. Food and Drug administration, eating as few as 4-5 uncooked kidney beans can cause severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea in 1-3 hours after ingestion. Uncooked kidney beans have an unusually high concentration of a chemical called phytohaemagglutinin that is destroyed when the beans are properly cooked by boiling. Apparently, cooking is a slow cooker may actually increase the toxicity. Other beans contain the chemical, but in much smaller amounts. Beans should soak in water for at least 5 hours. Pour out water, boil briskly in fresh water, with occasional stirring, for at least 10 minutes. Adding baking soda while cooking, reduces gas. Do not use kidney beans as toys or art projects for young children. In addition to their toxicity, raw beans are small object hazard for young children. If the child puts a bean into a body opening, the bean may get stuck, swell and become difficult to remove. |
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