A Massachusetts man died from an overdose of black licorice last year, doctors said Wednesday.
This unusual case was reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, in which a person consumed a bag and half a candy every day for two weeks before his death.
Licorice explains that licorice contains glyceric acid, which lowers potassium levels and can contribute to heart rhythm problems.
The cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. who described the case in the New England Journal of Medicine. Neil Batala said, “Even a relatively small amount of levis can increase your blood pressure a little.
The man fell inside a fast food restaurant and died the next day. Doctors found that he was dangerously low in potassium, which caused heart rhythm and other problems.
The Food and Drug Administration warns that eating just 2 ounces of black licorice a day for two weeks can cause irregular heartbeats.
“All of our products are safe to eat and fully comply with FDA regulations,” Hershey Company spokesman Jeff Beckman, who makes popular Twizlers a licorice twist, told the Associated Press.
Beckman added that all candy “should be enjoyed in moderation.”
With post wire
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