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Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

bbc.co.uk

321–330 of 374 posts

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It was dismissed with a reason like "common sense dictates that this was a bad idea" (think: "lol, wut? u dumb"). And this is why Europe is less litigious than the US (that and reasonable healthcare costs): the courts won't stand for frivolous cases.

I don't see what's frivolous about it. I hate liquorice but had no idea it was dangerous to consume in quantity,a nd in general I'm quite health/diet conscious.

Here in the UK people would call for the government to regulate that it must be labelled. Then if it wasn't then a lawsuit might be brought. But first port of call is just to get it changed.

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#322
post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On a similar note, I used to not smoke anything but gladly partake in a hookah pipe while out, I liked the different flavors and assumed the “fog” was benign. I stopped AS SOON AS I heard about how much worse hookah was. I had no clue and am completely appalled at the lack of warnings. I’ve met many other people that say the same thing. I still don't smoke anything, and also cut hookah out.

Modern hookah is soaked in glycerin which produces the majority of the vapor, while the tobacco is ideally vaporized instead of combusted as well (although usually it's a combination of burning and vaporization). So if done properly arguably better than a cig. The real issue with hookah is the chemicals and co2 released from the coals imo.

>and co2 released from the coals imo

The co (mono) is the problem and the fine coal particles which are NOT filtered by water, the water just cools down the smoke and that lets you breath the smoke even faster and deeper into your lungs.

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#323
post #81

I always knew the Dutch Apekoppen or 'banana monkeys' were the perfect way to enjoy the dangerous black stuff. The mix of high potassium banana with the lethal liquorice makes it both delicious and safe https://www.mrsbeightons.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ba... PS not endorsed by any kind of real science...

Like drinking a jagerbomb where the outer glass is filled with poison and the inner glass is filled with antidote

I always thought Jager tasted like Benylin - so that would make sense...

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#324
post #224
post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've come across a few foods that appear to be heavily acquired tastes, and if you did not get used to it as a kid, it is very difficult to change your tastes. Licorice is definitely one for me, it makes me feel like I am eating tree sap. Others include perilla leaves (called sesame leaves in Korean cuisine) and cilantro (people who are not used to it says it tastes like soap).

> cilantro (people who are not used to it says it tastes like soap) The soap taste of cilantro is attributed to genetics: https://www.britannica.com/story/why-does-cilantro-taste-lik...

also the bitter brussel sprout: https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2011/nov/01/brussel...

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#325
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have always wondered whether liquorice is an acquired taste. I find it vile, and I'm glad for that.

I've always wondered if it's something like cilantro. They've identified a gene that makes cilantro taste soapy to some. Maybe there's something similar with licorice since I've noticed many people seem to have a strong negative reaction to it. (I find the flavor mild but interesting, like vanilla.)

The flavour of licorice is, to my palate, many things, all of them unpleasant, but not "mild" at all.

I stongly suspect genetic factors, the way that some people find coriander / cilantro a strong, unpleasant taste. After all,licorice is a poison (as per the parent article), so a gene to detect and reject it as inedible has value.

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#326

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the weird things I’ve found traveling internationally is that salt & butter popcorn is apparently an American thing. In Asia and South America popcorn is almost always sweet. Salt & butter popcorn is one of those things you don’t realize how much you’ll miss it until you go to every market and movie theater in town and can’t find any popcorn that’s not sweet :-/

This is just not true. Salty popcorn is very normal in both Europe and Latin America. The artificial butter component is something that is more American and rarer outside of the US.

Real imitation artificial butter flavor... (from some Looney Tunes cartoon)

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#327
post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“I absolutely hate the taste of black licorice.“ Liquorice is an acquired taste ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acquired_taste ). You have to learn to like it.

I'm quite sure it is genetic. I've hated it since childhood, whereas my mutant childhood friends liked it. I've acquired several tastes since then, I've tried licorice multiple times, to no avail.

Here, have some Vegemite.

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#328
post #243
post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have always wondered whether liquorice is an acquired taste. I find it vile, and I'm glad for that.

How are you with fennel or anise? I assume you don't like ouzo or sambuca.

I love ouzo, but hate licorice.

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#329
People die from all sorts of things. My daughter-in-law did a rotation in pathology, and investigated the death from sepsis of an otherwise healthy 30-something male. He had hundreds of filthy fragments of wire in his gut, apparently from the wire brush he used to clean his grill.

Re: Man dies from eating more than a bag of liquorice a day

#330

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait until you try the Finnish salty liquorice alcohol called Salmiakkikossu. I love the salty candy but this is foul :) I read once that it was best described as old tractor tires marinated in moose piss :)

Oooh I really like salmiak candy, so that actually sounds pretty good to me. It's really interesting that love for salty licorice & salmiak is concentrated in only a handfull of countries.

I agree. Almost everyone I know hates liquorice more than they hate Marmite! I was surprised to see how many replies here said they really like it.
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