One bite and you'll be poisoned and turn purple! This home-cooked dish is loved by many people...

Pickled vegetables with a refreshing taste are a must-have on many families' tables, but improper pickling or storage can lead to a high risk of poisoning.

Recently, an elderly man in Zhengzhou, Henan Province , developed purple nails, lips and skin after eating pickled radish strips that he had made at home a year ago. He also suffered from stomach pain, shortness of breath and other symptoms . He was rushed to the hospital and was diagnosed with nitrite poisoning.

1. Nitrite is highly toxic and can cause death

The doctor explained that nitrite refers to a class of chemicals such as sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite, and calcium nitrite . It is a highly toxic substance. Ingestion of 0.2-0.5 grams in an adult can cause poisoning , and 3 grams can be fatal. Nitrite will oxidize normal hemoglobin, which has the function of carrying oxygen, into methemoglobin. This methemoglobin cannot transport oxygen, and the human body will be hypoxic. Severely poisoned people will experience shock, respiratory failure, etc., which is life-threatening.

Generally speaking, pickled foods produced by regular manufacturers will not have excessive nitrite. The nitrite content in homemade pickled foods will decrease over time, with the peak period being about 1-2 weeks after the start of pickling . Usually after 20 days, the nitrite content is relatively low.

Doctors speculated that the old man’s poisoning might have been caused by the radishes being rotten during pickling, or by improper storage after pickling, leading to contamination.

2 Clinical manifestations of nitrite poisoning

1. Neurological symptoms: often the first symptom, manifested as dizziness, fatigue, fear of cold, numbness of hands and feet, etc. In severe cases, there may also be symptoms such as shortness of breath, irritability, convulsions, and coma.

2. Gastrointestinal symptoms: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc.

3. Cyanosis of the skin: It is one of the most obvious and easily recognizable symptoms, with cyanosis of the lips being the most common, and can further develop to the tip of the tongue and nails. In severe cases, the conjunctiva, face, hands, feet and skin of the entire body will appear purple-black, accompanied by difficulty breathing, coma, convulsions, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, incontinence and other symptoms. In more serious cases, the patient may die from difficulty breathing.

Image source: Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University

4. Other symptoms: Some patients suffer from cerebral edema and retinal hemorrhage due to hypoxia, which manifests as decreased vision, ptosis, restricted eye movement, etc.

To prevent nitrite poisoning, please pay attention to the following 4 kinds of food

1. Long-term storage of green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables have the highest nitrate content, of which about 90% comes from vegetables. If fresh green leafy vegetables are stored for two or three days before consumption, the nitrite content may increase.

2. Leftover dishes

Bacteria can convert nitrates in vegetables into nitrites, and even if leftovers are kept in the refrigerator, bacteria will slowly grow. Therefore, the longer the leftovers are left, the more nitrites will be produced.

In July 2023, an elderly couple in Nanjing were sent to the hospital for emergency treatment due to nitrite poisoning. The grandmother suffered respiratory failure and was sent to the ICU for intubation. The doctor learned that both of them had eaten overnight food that had been stored in the refrigerator for two or three days.

3. Pickles

The nitrite content of vegetables is highest about one week after pickling, and the content will decrease after 20 days. Therefore, it is recommended to eat pickled vegetables after a full month of pickling. At the same time, adding fresh garlic, fresh ginger, fresh pepper, vitamin C, etc. can reduce the nitrite content.

4. Long-standing cold dishes

Although cold dishes may still look fresh and crisp after being left for a few days, the nitrite content in them is higher than that in leftovers. Therefore, it is recommended to prepare and eat cold dishes immediately .

In case of nitrite poisoning

Induce vomiting to reduce absorption

If symptoms are obvious, seek medical attention immediately

Source: People's Daily, National Emergency Broadcasting, Guangdong Disease Control, Healthy Hangzhou, Life Times

Image: Qianku.com