last night I was very ill, with what I thought was food poisoning and spent 4 hours in the bathroom performing an excorcism on my stomach contents via any available route, The cause turned out to be Raw Runner Beans !
raw runner bean remnants
I ate in total 15 whole Raw Runner Beans in their pod casings, remnants shown above, and then proceeded to feel extremely ill, this morning I feel drained but a lot better. Symptoms left over include tiny little flat dark red spots around my eyes. including as you can see quite a big red veiny mark on eyeball, so as you can see a real poisoning :
Props go to
rawfoodinfo.com which is where i pulled the quotes from the web in relation to this.
other green beans have similar issues, but I never experienced a reaction personally, like I did with Raw Runner beans, I swear previously I have eaten the odd raw runner bean, and not felt ill at all, I think maybe the quantity was the issue, but i would say the packet from Tescos was duly labeled with the words “do not eat raw”, although way to small to have registered on a visual scan, it needs to be in a much much larger typeface, it was in the second to smallest typeface on the packet. Some people may perhaps be immune to symptoms from this but I doubt it, as the chemicals involved are similar to cyanide, if youve safely eaten in the past the odd green runner bean direct from a plant and felt fine, and think im over reacting here, its probably just because you ate one young pod etc, ie a healthy person can tolerate a small amount probably with limited ill effects, and other varietys may contain less of the chemical etc, but certainly 15 large whole Raw runner green beans definately was, quite a severe poisoning, I guess out in the wilds ancestors would have informed you of this danger and passed the knowledge down, But in modern times this “Runner beans must be cooked” info, should definately be more widely known and promoted, and hopefully this post will serve as a warning to others.
Always cook your Runner beans properly and always cook other green beans also as this removes any danger by altering the chemicals in them, unless your sure your raw variety contains less of the poisonous chemicals.
allot of info here :
Raw beans are poisonous because they contain prussic (hydrocyanic) acid, which is rendered not dangerous only by cooking. It was only in 1957 that prussic acid protein was discovered in green beans. A few hours after eating raw beans or bean seeds, some individuals become sick from low blood pressure, vomiting, stomach ache, circulation problems, convulsions, or heart palpitations. These poison symptoms are possible with all beans. The susceptibility to these reactions to beans is heriditary.
Because they contain protein – Phasin?, raw beans can result in nausea and vomiting in sensitive people, which can be disrupted by heat.
Green beans nourish the blood and strengthen the nerves and bones. They help reduce high blood pressure and improve the function of insulin. However, they cannot replace medical treatments for diabetes. They are prophylactic/preventive. Correct preparation: Always eat green beans cooked or steamed — as a side dish or a salad. Careful: raw beans are poisonous.
Plant poisonings are the most common cause of calls to the poison control center. Poisonous plants include arnica, Aronstab, henbane, raw green beans, holly, dieffenbachia, yew, monkshood, foxglove (digitalis), laburnum, autumn crocus, cactus with poisonous spines, lupine, cockchafer, narcissus, oleander, castor, poppy, hemlock, thornapple, deadly nightshade, Christmas star, meadow hogweed, bryony, green and unripe potatoes, green pieces of grown potato tubers lying on the ground, and also green, unripe tomatoes and many other flowers and berries.
I think all plants might have a little cyanide (correction apparently its lectins (phytohaemaglutinins)) as part of normal metabolism, but this is usually not a problem due to the small amounts involved. Most beans have a little, but the older, darker type of lima or butter beans have quite a bit. The modern white varieties have very little. When it exists in raw beans, cyanide is mostly bound to other chemicals as a cyanogen, which can release the cyanide when reacted with an enzyme also present in the plant. If the plant is injured or frozen, cell structures burst that normally keep the cyanide separate from the cyanogen and CN can be relased. In some plants, at some dosages, this can harm livestock or humans eating the material.
This doesn’t happen as often as you might think though because we soak, cook and dry foods like casava and beans so the CN is driven off into the air. Also, cooking can inactivate the enzyme so the realtivly indigestible cyanogens pass from us without releasing the cyanide. Most green beans would be OK to eat raw, but I would be careful about raw lima and butter beans of the old dark heirloom varieties, especially if wilted for a while before being eaten.
update 21/09/10 :
a quote below from : were you wondering site article here
“It came as a shock to me to discover that Scarlet and other runner beans should be thoroughly cooked before eaten due to the presence of lectin phytohemagglutinin, a chemical that causes red blood cells to clump together. This same hemagglutinin is responsible for giving the influenza virus its heartiness.”
it sounds as though your using your own self judgment in deciding how many to eat raw, which is to be approved of, and it doesn’t sound like to many, your probably fine, just if you start feeling sick then you’ll know why, and can moderate them, one or two doesnt seem to be harming you so I wouldn’t worry. :)
I have eaten home grown runner beans raw since I was a little girl, granted I have never eaten more that 2 or 3 in one sitting and have never ever had any ill effects. My daughter now eats the runner beans I grow in my veg plot, again probably 2, 3 or 4 at a time and some quite big beans “cus they’re crunchy”. She has never had any ill effects either. We also eat the pea pods, which are much tastier than the peas once you peel the tough inner coating by snaping the pod and peeling – Please don’t tell me there is a problem with eating these raw too !
Sorry loads of people have had such a bad experience. I am now a bit concerned as to whether I should tell me daughter not to eat any raw beans in future …….
Two years ago I just one mature scarlet runner bean form a pod and woke up that night with severe abdominal pian. So it is surely not the quantity that gets you. That pain lasted for two weeks. At one point I went 4 days eating only one cup of yogert. It was a horrible experience. Maybe it is genetic and I am predisposed to the effects of the toxins. But I thought I was going to die. I will never eat a mature raw bean of any kind again. It’s just not worth it to me.
Was wondering what to do with the old runner beans from my allotment (bean pods and big red beans inside),but after having a very bad night of D & V and nearly going to hospital after eating rhubarb tops, decided to check the beans out. Thank god I did!! From now on only young beans form me and family and very well cooked at that! New veggie motto” if in doubt check it out”. Fab site by the way. (soz mean beetroot tops)
I grew some scarlet purple beans and just chopped the ends off the first pound or so, stuck them in a ziplock and froze them. I am glad I didn’t eat them raw while I was cleaning them! I accidentally found this information about raw, uncooked beans being poisonous! Who knew?! I think I’m going to stick to corn!
I grow Beans and have done for years. I grow runners cobras and purple Italian. Usually eat a couple off the plant no problem. A friend who was going away on holiday asked if I wanted some of their excess. They gave me runners purple french and a stringless flat bean. As there were so many I ate about a dozen. Unfortunately this caused me 3- 4 hours of D and V . I always new you had to boil the large red (Chilli Type beans) Well before eating. I am 90% sure that my DandVv came from the beans. I recommend that they are avoided raw.
Ben Price
I agree Bill, try not to buy them exported from Africa, support your country people, and the environment.
It has been a bad year for runner beans here in the midlands (according to my farther who has had an allotment for over 40 years). i have a massive crop that i am sharing with many neighbours and friends. Enorma runners and French climbing Cobra, grown in home produced poultry manure, no spraying just lots and lots of stored RAIN water. Never eat them raw its an age old fact or from Africa, think about the air miles !!! Bill Steele
hi i can confirm that runner beans are best cooked not eaten raw also had it confirmed by toxics center that any runner bean or broadbean has a lecctin that clumps red cellls together …..my son ate 8 of them raw caseing as well been violently unwell he is on a 72 hour watch as the other systoms which are quite severe takes after the vomiting and the squits !sorry if dont make sense just come in from the hospital right now all squffy spelling and yes its quantity that sets the illness off.
Is it possible that “bought in ” beans may be sprayed? Try growing your own in a tub with a wig-wam of sticks for the plants to grow up.
Any sign of back fly can be defeated by using the hose and spraying cold water which blasts the insects off. Being soft they break up so they don’t crawl back. Don’t use insect sprays, no need. Keep fed and watered and enjoy beans at their best.
Very interesting, my wife steamed the beans, we both feel stiffness and soreness but not debilitating as the ‘sick ones’ do. The big question is “Why are Tesco being given so much stick?” If they warn of potential poisoning, they must have information, so what is that info and what is its source. If from scientific research, why can’t we find it and if not, why do they give the warning. Over to you Tesco!
Wow thanks for this information. I have been nibbling raw runner beans in my garden but will stop that immediately. I had no idea they shouldn’t be eaten raw. I will make sure to cook them thoroughly from now on. Once again thank you for sharing.
In 2004 my daughter and I were projectile vomiting within an hour or two after eating raw runner beans bought from Tesco. I have eaten raw runner beans my entire life, as well as other raw veg and never vomited after eating them. I too was told about the poisonous within when I sent the remainder to the environmental health department, but I wanted to know why I should vomit them now after all these years. After reading the pack a day later, it said wash thoroughly and don’t eat raw. I also noticed the produce was from Africa. After doing some research I found that arsenic based pesticides may be used and that although banned in the UK, these chemicals can be used in Africa. Like many who have eaten raw beans without effect, I didn’t bother reading the pack. I now grow my own and eat them straight from the vine with no ill effects.
I was soaking some runner bean seeds (Climbing freanch bean-‘Cobra’) ready to plant in the garden and one of my ferrets has gotten hold of them & eaten about 3 of the seeds. Can the lectins (phytohaemaglutinins) cause death? I’m concerned as 3 bean seeds is obviously a high dose for a little ferret. Three hours have passed & there’s been no d&v but she does seem a little strange. Any help would be much appreciated.
cheers for the correctional info re the compounds that are causing the issue, and good to see men of science can also be caught out by such things :)
I am a professor of biology, so perhaps I should have known better. But anyhow, I juiced a pack of flat green beans, raw, and drank about 200ml. of the raw juice. After an hour I had abdominal discomfort and then had about 2 hours of vomiting and diarrhoea. Next morning I was recovered. But yes, I now know that raw green beans are poisonous, not because they contain cynanide (they don’t) but because they contain lectins (phytohaemaglutinins). These are destroyed by boiling for 10 mins.
or do you mean you vomited 7 times in one session ?
wow 7 times thats allot of risking it, by the first or second I would have learn’t my lesson from a stomach feedback perspective
Who’s the culprit…runner beans or Tesco’s? I too, experienced violent vomiting 3 hours after eating Tesco’s sliced Runner Beans. Having eaten them freely from my parent’s garden whilst growing up didn’t think anything of it, but 7 times of intense vomitting has told me otherwise.
Wow, thats a very interesting blog entry for me. I like your wordpress blog. Maybe you should write more articles of these type. (:
I ate tesco runner beans last night. I actually cooked tem. for a tiny bit over what they suggested on the packet. As with everything I cook. 3 hours later I was in the bathroom being sick. Where I spent the rest of the night. Unfortunately I had to go into work. But I feel that bad that I’m leaving once the important bits are done. The runner beans were the only thing I ate yesterday evening and I didnt expect anyone to have had a reaction before, as with all vegetables we believe they are good for you. I do however have a very sensitive stomach and having read this article I will not be buying them again. Just in case.
Best you could edit the blog subject title Raw Runner Beans Can be poisonous, you are warned … Updated to more generic for your subject you make. I loved the blog post still.
Im sorry to hear about your daughters ? especially as the beans were cooked properly ? they didnt eat the odd raw one in advance of cooking ? that implys perhaps they need to be more thoroughly cooked, or perhaps you have a more reactive intolerance than average ? oh well least its good to know that even after cooking its possible to be ill from them ?
My wife and two young daughters took violently sick yesterday. It seemed like food poisioning but could not understand why i was not sick. The only item I did not eat was “green beans” from a neighbours garden. I thought they had been left too late and the beans were rather big, they were properly cooked so i am confused!
yes next time your vomiting, i suggest you all try to attempt to do it without pressure strain, ie relaxingly vomit ?!?! attributing the spots to one part of of the process poisoning or vomiting is technically correct but functionally irelevant in the sense, that the two come as a package, it would take a ZEN master to vomit without pressure strain ? but ill try to give it a go next time I promise :) !
…although i believe the red speckles near your eyes is caused from the pressure strain on your blood vessels when you were vomiting the bean contents.
thank you for this interesting post! I learned a lot from reading this and know now to cook my veggies before consumption! : )
I so wish i had read this warning yesterday BEFORE i ate raw runner beans that my boss bought into work!!! both myself and my eldest (pregnant) daughter ate the runner beans and within a few hours were both violently ill… still feeling dodgy this morning and will be off work with my self inflicted poinsoning!!!! the boss wont be happy!
not that i know of im afraid but at least your in good company.
yep, wife and I just had a handful each and wife in loo now… fear I am next; any known antidote? Thanks for your comments all…
Yes it is possible your body is less tolerant to them than another person, but if properly cooked they should pose no ill effects, maybe your body remembered the traumatic experience before, and the itchy throat is your body warning you.
Yup ate about ten runner beans, only one containing a bean and proceeded to get a swollen/itchy throat and throw up several times in the morning. A friend ate far more than i did and threw up a couple of hours afterwards. Plus I’ve just eaten them cooked for the first time since and have now got an itchy throat again. not sure whether this is paranoia or i am now intolerant to them :/ can that happen?
Good webpage. I’m just recovering here in Bristol, UK from a bout of severe V&D and nearly one week later my guts are still sensitive. I ate raw pods and the scarlet seeds whilst harvesting from a friends allotment. I would say I ate between 5 and 10 seeds in total. In the evening, I was vomiting for 5 hours not really knowing what I had eaten to cause such a reaction. I called the ambulance because I was hyperventilating and couldn’t get up off the floor – I’m a bit of a wimp maybe but I was alone in the house. The nurse noted I had slight low blood pressure. Anyway, today, I read an article in the Saturday Guardian newspaper about the culinary virtues of runner bean seeds which contained a warning that they should be cooked as they are poisonous – which got me searching the net and finding this site. I’m so relieved that I have found the cause – almost definitely.
I agree with Ancient’s comment that Scarlet is talking poppycock and just showing off that he or she has got some kind of resistance to the poison even though he or she’s only got one kidney. Bully for you mate. I haven’t.
many varieties contain different concentrations of compounds, I didnt say every type of bean ! it maybe your scarlet beans contain less of the compounds in question and cooking the mature dried bean also saves you from any possible grief, the younger tender immature beans contain less of the harmfull compounds. The “no scientific data just opinions” statement you make is poppycock, you are referring to you personal experience not scientific experiment, certainly as concerns the uk sold “runner beans” i mention, if you dont beleive me find and buy them as shown in the photo above and try eating the amount I did raw and you should see some effect from them, obviously anyone trying this does so at their own risk do not attempt to blame or sue me when your doubled up over the loo. It is also possible to be someone who can tolerate these compound better than other people either through lifetime exposure or genetics. As proven by many tribes whos rituals involve training themselves to tolerate ingesting poisonous compounds in increasing quantity, for the purpose of mind altered states or tests of male virility ( see bruce parry)
I have eaten raw green Scarlet Runner Beans for many years, lots of them, straight from the garden. Just recently I read that they are “poisonous”; no scientific data, just opinions. I’ve never gotten the least bit sick, and I only have one kidney. I have read everything I can find on the internet on the subject and have concluded that either there are some people who are hyper-sensitive to something in beans, or that there is some confusion between eating raw green beans (pods) and mature beans (seeds,) or that the sickness was from some other cause. I don’t know what “Tesco” is, but has anybody considered that perhaps the purchased beans were contaminated with salmonella? When I eat beans raw, the seeds have just barely formed. Once the seeds have formed (the bean pods are very tough at that point!) I let them then mature to use as a dried bean, which I cook before eating.
allot now corrected, these things are sometimes written pretty quickly.
direct or indirect is a moot point, the heaving was caused by the reaction to the poisoning thereby directly or not caused by the poisoning. Though to be honest ive never had the red speckles on my skin like that when throwing up normally, so its open for debate as to how much was caused by poisoning or heaving, but in reality the neccessity to heave was caused by the poisoning. It’s all a knock on circumstance little way of avoiding it generally, though perhaps to others who may experience such a poisoning try and take jims advice and not heave to violently, though i think you may find that difficult depending on the quantity of beans ingested.
good article, aside from your misuse of the word “allot” instead of a lot. Allot means to distrubute evenly.
Plus the broken vein in your eye probably isn’t a symptom of the poisoning directly. More likely an injury caused by heaving.
Thanks for this info! I, like others here, have just been up all night ridding my stomach of the apparently toxic beans. Mine were not from tesco, they were from a friend’s kitchen garden, and I’m not sure what kind they were but when I opened up the pods, the beans themselves were white and mostly a BRIGHT, bright purple. I remember thinking to myself, as I broke them over my salad “huh, usually brightly colored means dangerous in nature. I hope it’s okay to eat these…”
Should have listened to my gut… It certainly got it’s revenge.
I can agree with the above comments I ate about twelve beans and thought it was healthy. How wrong was I. never felt so ill and lost nearly 10 pounds in weight as a result. Thanks for the info. Wish I read it earlier.
WOW! Im horrified! My daughter loves raw veg and even ive started eating raw runner beans, we only eat a few a day and its homegrown, i also wont touch them if the seed is fully formed and only let her have the young beans. Shes eating 2 right now with her salami sandwich her cucumber and yellow sliced peppers. We eat as best we can though from the research ove done on what we thought was healthy is not. We have suffered no ill effects but then i know moderation is the key. I dont encourage silly eating of raw veg! I may continue to eat them and as for morgan, she is very wise for 8 and i will inform her and let her decide.
As someone asked, the beans actually contain more Lectin than the pods. Therefore eating the beans raw is more dangerous than eating the same weight of whole pods.
Eating shop bought beans is more dangerous than eating the ones in your garden simply because the ones in the supermarket tend to be picked for highest weight (when the pods have grown big and the beans have developed more). The ones in the garden are likely to be picked younger before the beans have developed much.
A very interesting read. I have just been up for most of the night vomiting every half an hour with diarrhea after eating a bag of raw runner bean. I didn’t read the packet so do not know if it said ‘ do not eat raw’. I eat many veggies raw, and having ate the odd few when i was a child, never imagined they would do to me what they did last night……………I am now having to take a day off sick, too weak to go into work!!!
I have eaten half a pack of ready-sliced raw runner beans and not felty any ill-effects (I may have gone to the loo a lot, but I do anyway). I had most of the remainder the following day – again no effect. I do suffer from HIGH blood pressure so maybe it countered that. However no vomiting, nausea or serious stomach upset.
However, having no discovered that they should NOT be eaten raw (from the small print on a Tesco packet!) I will follow the advice from now on and not take chances. Still I’m surprised that I DIDN’T suffer ill effects after what I have read.
Yes I was very ill through eating about 7 raw runner bean seeds !
was sick about 2hrs later.
They had been gleaned from the old [dried] beans that I had been clearing up. They tasted very nice though !
Had the exact same thing happen to me last night! I have always eaten raw runner beans but these ones were slightly older. They were from Tesco too!
Yes, my wife and i both drank a glass of runner bean juice (testing a new juicer!!) and we were both really sick a few hours later, almost at the same time and for the same length of time (lasted a few hours). We thought it was some chicken i cooked the night before but reading the above, it had to be the beans!
not sure dried or fresh ? The seeds/beans I would have thought they contain some similar chemicals ? certainly when you eat them inside the raw runner beans as a whole I would assume so, unless the the upset tummy chemicals, are only contained within the bean pod casing which I doubt.
Hi,
thanks for the great quality of your blog, every time i come here, i’m amazed.
black hattitude.
can you get an upset tum when you eat ruuner bean seeds?.
I liked reading your blog…keep up the good work.