英国板栗有毒吗（板栗变质中毒危害）

What You Need to Know About the Toxicity of Chestnuts in the UK

The sound of fallen chestnuts crunching underfoot as you stroll through a British park or woodland during autumn is one of the simpler pleasures of life. Chestnuts are a staple ingredient in roast dinners, stuffing recipes and desserts, but concerns have been raised about whether certain varieties of British chestnuts could be poisonous. In this article, we'll explore whether this is true and what you need to know to stay safe.

Getting to Know Chestnuts Better

Chestnuts are an autumnal ingredient most often associated with stuffing recipes and desserts. However, they've also been a staple foodstuff for centuries in different cultures around the world. Chestnuts belong to the same family, Fagaceae, as oak trees and beech trees. Brits primarily consume two chestnut varieties, the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) and the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum).

Understanding Chestnut Poisoning

While chestnuts aren't toxic or poisonous to humans, illnesses arising from certain varieties of the nuts may occur. Sweet chestnuts are the varieties most commonly consumed by humans, and they're not known to cause chestnut poisoning. However, horse chestnuts are not edible due to the presence of saponins in high amounts. These toxic sapogenins are generally found in the bark and seeds of the tree, but are also present in the leaves and flowers. Consuming conkers, the nut of the horse chestnut, or extracts made from the trees' bark can result in poisoning.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Chestnut Poisoning

If someone has eaten horse chestnuts, they may display symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness. In extreme cases, seizures, coma and death can occur, although this is rare. The severity of the symptoms varies upon the amount of saponins ingested. If you suspect that someone has consumed horse chestnuts, please contact your local doctor or hospital immediately.

Staying Safe While Handling Chestnuts

If you're worried about the risk of chestnut poisoning, the best way to stay safe is to simply avoid consuming horse chestnuts altogether, and stick to using sweet chestnuts in your recipes. When foraging for sweet chestnuts, make sure that the nuts you pick are of good quality and haven't become moldy. If you're having trouble differentiating between sweet and horse chestnuts, it's best to forage in areas where sweet chestnuts are the only variety growing.

The Bottom Line

British chestnuts are a tasty and nutritious foodstuff. While certain varieties of chestnuts, namely the horse chestnut, can be poisonous, this doesn't mean that British sweet chestnuts are off the menu. Stick to eating sweet chestnuts, and be sure to store any leftover nuts properly to keep them fresh. Consider consulting an expert in chestnut foraging or a local guide to help you differentiate between sweet and horse chestnuts when you're out in the wild.