important staple food. When preparation is neglected, naturally occurring compounds in the plant can create a serious poisoning risk.
The Bottom Line
Cassava may have earned sensational headlines as the “world’s deadliest food,” but the reality is more nuanced.
It is a nutritious and important staple consumed safely by millions of people. Its danger comes from naturally occurring cyanogenic compounds, particularly in varieties with higher toxin levels, and from inadequate processing.
So the most important message isn’t “never eat cassava.”
It is “know how cassava must be prepared before eating
