Quiz: The World’s Most Dangerous Foods

An apple a day keeps the doctor away …unless you eat this potentially dangerous part containing amygdalin, a substance that releases deadly cyanide into the bloodstream when digested.

From 2010 to 2012, a viral social media challenge had people eating spoonfuls of this delectable spice for laughs… that is, until they realised it contains the chemical compound coumarin, which is anything but funny when consumed in large amounts.

If eaten straight from the tree, a toxin that encases this tropical nut (which is technically a seed) can make your throat itch like a cheap wool sweater – and even cause life-threatening reactions in some people.

We don’t like wasting food, but if this kitchen staple is too green, you’d better toss it. The green comes from high levels of solanine, which can cause death even in moderate amounts (especially for children).

Like your dinner with a side of kidney failure? We didn’t think so. Maybe steer clear of this amphibious African specialty, which can be highly toxic if harvested at the wrong time or if the wrong organs are consumed.

You can eat these berries, but don’t even think about chewing on their leaves, twigs or seeds – they contain a lethal chemical that turns into cyanide when metabolised, and can make you regret that decision very, very quickly.

A crunchy, fresh salad is both healthy and delicious, but beware when buying lettuce: Avoid this kind, which is more likely to host harmful bacteria and has been linked to outbreaks of listeria, E. coli and salmonella.

A delicacy that requires intestinal fortitude in the most literal sense, this Sardinian sheep’s milk cheese is left out in the open so that maggots can feed on it, causing fermentation. When eaten alive with the cheese (as is customary), those little guys can survive being digested and wiggle their way through the intestinal walls, making the eater very sick.

HOT HOT HOT! Chilis are great for adding spice and flavour to dishes, but be careful –  a bit of this heat-delivering compound is good, but too much is NOT NOT NOT!

It’s Jamaica’s national fruit, but don’t go picking it off the tree whenever you feel like it. If eaten unripe, a poison called hypoglycin can cause the self-explanatory Jamaican Vomiting Sickness or – if you’re really unlucky – coma or death.

In sauces, salads, stews and everything in between, these ground-dwellers are umami magic. But avoid foraging for them in the wild unless you know what you’re doing – the wrong ones can give you everything from a headache to a one-way ticket to the other side.

Repeat after us: Chew, then swallow. This American classic has been outed as a choking hazard.

A sought-after delicacy in Japan, a single one of these fish contains enough tetrodotoxin poison to kill 30 people. Chefs who prepare the fish must undergo years of training in order to serve it safely, and their rare skill means that dishes featuring this fish can fetch up to $200. And you thought sushi chefs were masters of their craft…

Mmmmmm! A pie made of this plant is heavenly, but don’t eat the leaves – they contain oxalic acid, which might get you closer to heaven than you intended.

This food is a wonderful substitute for meat in chilis, stews and even burger recipes, but always boil thoroughly before serving. It contains a protein, called lectin, which – if not properly destroyed by cooking – can cause a severely upset stomach.

It might be a key ingredient in a popular pudding flavour, but you don’t want to mess around with this plant if you’re not sure what you’re doing. When incorrectly prepared, consumption of it can lead to cyanide poisoning.

Drinking responsibly is always a good idea, but be especially wary of this particular tipple. Dubbed ‘the green fairy’ in artistic circles for its reputed psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties, it was long-banned in several countries.

Mercury is great for gauging the temperature, but not so great for your nervous system. Due to its high levels of mercury, this fish is not advised for consumption by pregnant women, nursing mothers and young children.

When consumed in large amounts (2 tablespoons or more), this seemingly harmless holiday spice can cause symptoms of nausea, dizziness, extreme sluggishness and even out-of-body sensations – all due to a compound called myristicin.

And, finally, for our furry friends: We love rewarding our pets with delicious treats, but you should never give your four-legged companion this food – no matter how much they might beg – as it’s highly toxic for them.