Does eating sprouted potatoes cause poisoning?

Potatoes are nutritious and easy to prepare into many attractive dishes. However, when stored in high humidity and exposed to light, potatoes begin the germination process and synthesize glycoalkaloid compounds, mainly solanine and chaconine.

If the potato is fresh and intact, the solanine content is low and safe for health. However, as soon as small shoots appear, the toxins begin to increase, concentrating heavily in the sprouts, sprout eyes, skin, and flesh just under the skin.

The toxin solanine is stable with heat, does not decompose or reduce toxicity whether the potatoes are boiled, simmered, stir-fried, cooked in soup, fried or baked. Therefore, removing the sprouts and then cooking them is not guaranteed to be safe. When entering the body through the digestive tract, solanine damages the lining of the stomach and intestines, then is absorbed into the blood, affecting the central nervous system and cardiovascular system.

Depending on the amount of potatoes consumed and each person’s physical condition, poisoning reactions can range from mild to very severe. At a mild level, eaters often experience digestive disorders such as stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea, accompanied by a burning or uncomfortable feeling in the tongue and throat area. When the amount of toxin is deeply absorbed, the eater is susceptible to severe headaches, dizziness, dilated pupils and overall fatigue.

If poisoning is severe, solanine can cause low blood pressure, arrhythmia, acute respiratory failure and even life-threatening. This toxicity is dangerous for young children, the elderly or people with underlying cardiovascular, liver and kidney diseases.

You should throw away potatoes that have sprouted, including small sprouts, tubers with green skin, or tubers that are wilted, soft and deformed. Priority should be given to fresh fruit with uniform yellow color. Purchased potatoes should be stored in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight to minimize the germination process.

In case of suspected signs of poisoning after eating, the patient should quickly go to the nearest medical facility for timely examination and intervention.