The ‘World’s Deadliest Food’: Cassava’s Dual Nature as Both Lifeline and Threat
Cassava, a starchy root vegetable native to South America, has earned the ominous title of the “world’s deadliest food.” Despite its reputation, nearly 500 million people worldwide rely on cassava as a dietary staple. This paradox—being both a life-sustaining crop and a potential poison—stems from the plant’s natural defense mechanism: cyanogenic glucosides. These compounds can … Read more