Global Courant
Hong Kong health authorities on Tuesday warned the public not to consume large amounts of ginkgo seeds in a single serving as they investigated a suspected case of poisoning.
A 57-year-old man was hospitalized after eating about 50 ginkgo seeds used to make soup, the Hong Kong Center for Health Protection (CHP), which falls under the Ministry of Health, said.
The seeds were a gift from a relative who brought them from mainland China.
Two and a half hours later, he developed symptoms such as dizziness, nausea and vomiting, after which he was admitted to the intensive care unit at Queen Mary Hospital. Although his condition is stable, he remains hospitalized, CHP said.
The seed is widely touted as a memory boosting food. It has also been part of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries.
“Ingestion of 10 to 50 pieces of cooked ginkgo seeds at one time has been reported to cause acute poisoning in humans,” said a CHP spokesperson, adding that the immature and uncooked seeds are more toxic, as toxicity is reduced after cooking . .
The center said ginkgo seeds contain toxins that are primarily neurotoxic. Ginkgo seed poisoning usually shows symptoms such as vomiting, irritability, and tonic or colonic convulsions, from one to 12 hours after ingestion.
“In severe cases where large amounts have been ingested or the individuals are susceptible, loss of consciousness and death can occur,” the spokesperson added, warning that children are particularly vulnerable to this type of food poisoning, while the elderly and those with poor health conditions should also monitor their intake.
The CHP appealed to the public to limit their intake of ginkgo seeds and not consume them raw.
If symptoms of poisoning develop, consumers should immediately consult medical professionals for advice and prompt treatment, the center added.
