Hydrocyanic acid is a highly toxic substance. While it is not present in food at toxicologically relevant levels, it is released when plant-derived foods containing cyanogenic glycosides are chewed or otherwise processed.
In the EU Regulation 2022/1364 of August 2022 new maximum levels of hydrocyanic acid, including hydrocyanic acid bound in cyanogenic glycosides, have been established. The affected foods appear from the annex to the regulation and include linseed, almonds, raw apricot kernels and cassava.
The warning ‘Only to be used for cooking and baking. Do not consume raw!’ must be applied when marketing small quantities of linseed with high content of hydrocyanic acid and bitter almonds directly to the consumer.
The amendments have already entered into force but according to a transitional period, foodstuffs lawfully placed on the market before 1 January 2023 may remain on the market until their date of minimum durability or the use-by date has expired.
For more information on food substances, please contact:
Helle Buchardt Boyd
hbb@dhigroup.com
Tel +45 4516 9097
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