Hydrocyanic acid glycosides in foods

Hydrocyanic acid glycosides (also known as cyanogenic glycosides) are natural plant constituents found in flaxseed, almonds, apricot kernels and cassava, among others. Cyanogenic glycosides themselves have no harmful effects on the human body.

Only through the enzymatic cleavage of these glycosides (e.g. during grinding or chewing) is hydrocyanic acid released.

In the body, prussic acid inhibits cellular respiration and leads to shortness of breath, dizziness, convulsions and unconsciousness, even death by so-called "internal asphyxiation". The acute reference dose (ARfD) for hydrogen cyanide is 20 µg/kg body weight.

Based on a review of the health risk assessment of prussic acid glycosides in foods with high levels of cyanogenic glycosides such as linseed, almonds and cassava, new maximum levels have been in force since 01.01.2023, as the ARfD value for prussic acid could be exceeded by consuming these foods.

YOUR PLUS: The AGROLAB GROUP offers you the testing of compliance with these new limits for the above-mentioned products in our laboratory AGROLAB Dr. Verwey with a determination limit of 1 mg/kg. Your test order will be accepted by any AGROLAB food testing laboratory.

Link: AGROLAB RADAR 09/22.

Author: Dr. Katja Fuchs