Is mad honey dangerous to eat?
Consumption of mad honey can cause a poisonous reaction called grayanotoxin poisoning, mad honey disease, honey intoxication, or rhododendron poisoning. The honey is the most common cause of grayanotoxin poisoning. Bees are not affected by grayanotoxins. Additionally, patients may develop dizziness, nausea and vomiting, weakness, sweating, blurred vision, diplopia and impaired consciousness. The heating of processed honey may kill grayanotoxin.Grayanotoxins bind to sodium channels, leading to prolonged depolarisation and causing bradycardia and hypotension. Historically used in traditional medicine, mad honey’s recent recreational consumption has increased, leading to cases of intoxication from excessive use.In severe cases, hypotension, bradycardia or shock may occur. To avoid grayanotoxins poisoning, the public is reminded to purchase honey from a reliable source. Honey with a bitter or astringent taste should be discarded.Grayanotoxin binds to a subunit of intracellular sodium channels found on neurons and cardiac muscle. Symptoms are thought to be related to sodium channel activation and vagal nerve stimulation.
What toxin is found in honey?
Honey can contain toxins such as grayanotoxins and pyrrolizidine alkaloids that are introduced by bees from other plants and animals. As of June 2020, there has been only one reported foodborne outbreak in the United States that is related to a honey-containing product. Mad honey is different from commercial/marketed honey as it is contaminated with grayanotoxin; it is known as mad honey due to its intoxicating/poisoning effects. Grayanotoxins are diterpenes, polyhydroxylated cyclic hydrocarbons, containing no nitrogens.Grayanotoxins are plant toxins that occur in some rhododendron species, among others. The substances can also be found in honey if bees have processed the nectar of these plants. This is mainly known to occur in the Turkish Black Sea region.Consumption of mad honey can cause a poisonous reaction called grayanotoxin poisoning, mad honey disease, honey intoxication, or rhododendron poisoning.