30 Foods You Didn't Know Could Kill You (2024)

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Not every mushroom is created equal. Crimini mushrooms might make perfect pasta toppers, but some species contain poisons that can kill.

The juicy, red fruit contains a poison, Glycoalkaloid, in its leaves, which is known for causing upset stomachs, severe cramping, and anxiety. So steer clear of the leaves and stems.

Rhubarb might bake up all kinds of delicious sweets, but the leaves are poisonous, causing breathing trouble, seizures, kidney failure, and in some cases, death.

One of the most common allergies is to peanuts. The most severe response is anaphylaxis, which can lead to severe constriction of the airways, shock, and even loss of consciousness. It is dangerous enough to cause death if left untreated, so know your allergies before stepping anywhere near these babies or their addictive friend, peanut butter.

A severe allergic reaction to shellfish can inhibit breathing and even be life-threatening.

Potatoes have both poisonous stems and leaves, but even so, potato poisoning is rare. Most potato-related deaths come from eating green potatoes, or drinking potato leaf tea.

Watch out for cherry seeds, which contain poisonous hydrogen cyanide.

Raw meat — including red meat, poultry, and seafood — and uncooked eggs can contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause gastroenteritis in humans. Salmonella poisoning can also lead to serious complications, such as bacteremia (when salmonella enters the bloodstream) that are life-threatening to people with weaker immune systems. So light a flame under your meat to avoid any risks.

This seed (no, it isn't actually a nut) may pack in many health benefits — but they are also potentially full of poison. Bitter almonds, while in their raw form, are full of cynaide. They need to go through a specialized heat treatment (more than just your DIY oven roasting) in order to remove the toxins.

The ballpark favorite is the leading cause of choking fatalities among children, so watch your little ones when they scarf 'em down.

Apples and stone fruits — cherries, plums, apples, pears, peaches, and apricots — are nature's candy, but stay away from the seeds (as well as the bark and leaves). They contain amygdalin, a compound that produces cyanide. Large doses can lead to dizziness and vomiting, increased blood pressure, kidney failure, coma, and even death.

We love us some berries, but the elderberry plant, used in medicinal syrups, sodas, and liquors can cause a severely upset stomach, so stay away from the stems and leaves.

Castor oil comes from the castor bean plant, which is loaded with the poison ricin. Make sure the beans your castor oil was made from adhered to all safety guidelines.

The puffer fish's skin and certain organs contain an extremely poisonous toxin that can paralyze a human and even cause death.

Be careful if you ever eat live octopus — the suction cups can get stuck to your throat if you don't chew thoroughly. And that does not sound pleasant.

This pear-shaped fruit needs to ripen fully, as it contains toxins that can lead to death. Importation of the raw fruit is banned in the U.S, but you can buy it canned.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids, poisonous toxins, are found in this sweet and sticky treat. If honey isn't pasteurized properly, eating it can lead to headaches, dizziness, weakness and vomiting — eating too much of it can be fatal.

These legumes are good for you, unless they're prepared incorrectly. Soak red kidney beans for several hours to remove lectins, which can kill the cells in your stomach, and cook and drain lima beans thoroughly to get rid of the chemical compound, linamarin, which can turn into hydrogen cyanide.

You've likely heard about the dangers of mercury poisoning, and that's a big reason why you should be careful of your raw tuna intake — especially for children and pregnant women. Once ingested, it can cause itching, pain, high blood pressure and other dangerous symptoms.