Readers reply: are there any foods that have not at some time been considered harmful in a study?

Are there any meals that haven't at a while been thought of dangerous in a research? Tony Clancy, Malvern

Ship new inquiries to nq@theguardian.com.

Readers reply

The overwhelming majority of credible tutorial research within the area of vitamin conclude that no meals is dangerous offered that it's picked up inside 5 seconds of getting been dropped. Mobilepope

Just about something is dangerous in case you devour sufficient of it – together with issues that will even kill you in case you devour too little. Water is an effective instance. Too little, and also you die of dehydration, however it is going to additionally kill you in case you drink an excessive amount of, as a result of your blood-sodium degree drops too low (“hyponatremia”). This may occasionally properly have been the reason for demise in some individuals who died after taking the drug ecstasy (MDMA) – whereas making an attempt to maintain hydrated, they overdid it. Shasarak

The reply should be no. I began doing random searches of “<meals identify> risks” and after 10 I gave up as there have been too many hits. Admittedly, a number of had received the Ignobel award. For bananas, the highest hit was an instructional research of the hazards of utilizing the skins to deal with nipple fissures. MabLlechIdris

The issue is that recommendation from governments previously was deeply flawed. Partly, it’s alleged, as a consequence of lobbying, partly as a consequence of pondering the buyer couldn’t deal with understanding that unsaturated fat have been OK or good, however saturated dangerous. I believe that complicates issues, as individuals see official recommendation altering it “feels” such as you’re being informed to not eat eggs in the future then they’re inspired the subsequent. _Be_Kind_

I believe it’s extra that individuals seemingly battle with something that may’t be summarised right into a tweet or six-second soundbite, as a result of persons are after easy binary solutions. Is that this good or dangerous … and the overall actuality of most scientific solutions is that typically “it relies on the precise circumstances reminiscent of …” which is the purpose most individuals have switched off. Paperingover

MSG (monosodium glutamate). For years, quite a few science researchers and baseless smears have hoped to convict MSG, trailing the racism time period “Chinese language restaurant signs”. Regardless of overwhelmed efforts to slander it, MSG has sustained its innocence within the FDA’s Gras (typically recognised as protected) checklist and continues to be probably the most used and most secure components within the meals trade. JJ

My mom was 3st 4lbs when she died, 11 years in the past. A lifetime devotee of the Day by day Categorical and an avid reader of Prime Santé journal, she was sectioned twice, the place successfully drive fed. She believed what she learn, had no understanding of any ulterior motive in publishing an article on the hazards of tinned salmon or toasted tea muffins. Taking all of it as gospel, she lower out each foodstuff as soon as a foul phrase was printed about it. She died believing that statins have been, or weren't, the reply to every little thing. The only remaining merchandise she would willingly eat have been natural tomatoes. Did she one way or the other overlook that article, did it postdate her demise or are they nonetheless protected from the scrutiny of the Categorical? John Roughton, Hereford

A part of the battle for me is exampled by publishing flawed research, eg too few samples, too brief a timeframe, self-reporting, lack of enough peer evaluation and/or sponsorship by a stakeholder. Moreover, once I learn “in all probability, could be the case, it appears probably, wants additional evaluation, maybe, would appear to point” I instantly understand garbage. The presence of sure phrases reminiscent of “superfood” must be sufficient to dismiss no matter follows as hyperbole. Sadly, most of what's printed about meals, train, healthcare, food plan, and many others is solely nugatory fog. phrixus

Within the twenty first century, it’s the best way during which meals is produced, processed and marketed that's dangerous for us. Additionally, moderation in all issues; rich western international locations undergo from meals allergy symptoms and so forth excess of international locations in say south-east Asia or the Indian subcontinent. Anticipating to eat burgers day-after-day is dangerous for everybody. It's expectation that's the drawback that must be addressed. Coqauvin

I've usually puzzled how globe artichokes have been recognised as a superb factor to eat. Particularly contemplating that they're mainly thistles and we aren’t Eeyore. They will’t have seemed notably tempting after they have been first tried – it’s solely the event of them by breeding the higher crops which have made them one of many extra scrumptious greens now we have immediately. Thoughts you, wild carrots have been bitter and unpromising means again when as properly. Vicc

I used to be chatting to my household about chick peas the opposite day. Shopping for them uncooked, on the packet it says that you need to soak them in water for 12 hours after which boil them for an hour earlier than consuming – and undoubtedly don't eat raw. How on earth did individuals discover out that greater than half a day in water would make one thing edible? And who found the results of consuming them uncooked … and simply what are these penalties? snickers4ever

Sure, I’ve usually puzzled about that with prawns. Let’s face it, they aren’t precisely Mom Nature’s most stunning creation are they? You would need to be fairly determined (or fairly hungry) to have a look at one and suppose: “I might eat that.” Mark_MK

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