A week after we got here I discovered the "nut" aisle at a local store. And luckily for me there were actually a few bags that had the English translation on the front. Feeling adventurous I opted for salted apricot seeds. I got home and immediately ate several handfuls for a snack, at least 20. Clearly they were delicious.
The next day I was boastfully telling my mom about my new discovery. Her first response? "Oh, that's odd, I had always heard they were poisonous. Huh, must have just been an old wives tale."
This sparked my curiousity and I Googled it. Sure enough, when combined with stomach acid they transmit a reaction that has the same effect as arsenic and are therefore banned in the United States. They are sold in China because according to Asian medicine consuming one or two a day helps prevent cancer. Over time those most serious about their health can work their way to having their system tolerate ten a day. Yikes. I am going to die.
I call the the medical center. The translation for "apricot" must not be a common word so after much debate on what I actually ate the conversation goes like this:
Doc: "oh. twenty too many. you need only eat one. you have vomiting?"
Me: "No"
Doc: "Dizzy?"
Me: "No, I feel fine."
Doc: "How long since you eat?"
Me: "Yesterday"
Doc: "You okay then. You be dead by now."
He then went on to tell me that you should only eat one and that eating 20 is "lethal". Thanks buddy. I know this, that's why I called.
I took a picture of both the front and the back of the package. It has a nice outdoor scene on it, no skull and cross bones or anything else that might spark someone to think twice about consuming them. Thanks China.
And special thanks to God for granting me a child young enough that I didn't feed them to her too. There are many seemingly small but significant blessings in life, this is one of them.
