By Janet Vargas - Independent Natural Health Researcher 30+ Yrs
Once Potatoes start Sprouting, are they still Safe to Eat? Mostly NO, unless they have only just started to Sprout and are Tiny. You should always Avoid Green Potatoes unless the are only just starting to change colour but you should Peel them Thickly with a Knife instead of a Potato Peeler. Make sure there is No Green left on the Potato OR Throw Out because they are Toxic. Sprouted Potatoes are Also Toxic if they are pass the Tiny Stage (where they have just appeared) and you should never ever consider using Wrinkled Potatoes because ALL of those ARE Toxic!
Please AVOID Eating Green Potatoes
For Your Health's Sake!
For further Information to let you know why this is So Important, shall I show you some abbreviated Information in shorter detail than some Webpages? It goes like this:
You should avoid eating sprouted potatoes because the sprouts and green parts of the potato contain high levels of toxic compounds called glycoalkaloids, such as solanine and chaconine, which can cause symptoms ranging from Stomach Upset and Headaches to Confusion and, in severe cases, Heart and Nervous System problems. While small, firm potatoes with minor sprouts can be made safer by Thoroughly Removing the Sprouts and faintly green skin, you should discard potatoes that are shrivelled, soft, or have extensive greening, as the toxins are too widespread.
Why Sprouted Potatoes Are Dangerous
- Glycoalkaloid Toxins: Sprouting potatoes produce higher concentrations of glycoalkaloids, which are natural toxins found in potatoes.
- Exposure to Light: Green skin indicates that the potato has been Exposed to Light and has produced more chlorophyll, which is often a sign of increased glycoalkaloid levels.
- Toxicity Symptoms: Consuming too many glycoalkaloids can lead to Nausea, Throwing Up, Diarrhea, Abdominal Pain, Headaches, Confusion, and even Severe Health Issues.
What to Do with Sprouted Potatoes
- Check for Firmness: If a potato is still firm and doesn't have extensive greening, you can carefully cut away the sprouts, the "eyes," and any green parts.
- Discard if Soft or Green: If the potato is soft, shriveled, or has a lot of green skin, it is best to throw it away to avoid potential health risks.
- When in Doubt, Throw it Out: The safest approach is to discard any sprouted or green potatoes if you are unsure about their safety.
Have You Ever Said This?
"My Potatoes Have Turned Green!"
Prevention
- Proper Storage: Store potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place to prevent them from sprouting.
- Avoid Light: Keep potatoes Away from Sunlight to minimize the production of excess chlorophyll, and glycoalkaloids.
So there you have it Folks, the Information so many people are still not aware of Today. Decades ago, many Parents were aware of these things and passed this knowledge onto their Kids for when they grow up. These days we have 3 Generations of Working Parents (Mums and Dads) who often forget to tell their Kids OR their Parents didn't tell them. So often these days, not a lot of Families have things passed down much through the Generations (Parents, Grandparents and Great Grandparents) like there used to be, OK?
This Is Important As Well
Did you know or have you heard this mentioned before? In our country of Australia for many years, it was Common Practice that ALL POTATOES were to be KEPT OUT OF LIGHT - Covered with Hessian Bags Etc until they were Sold. Green Grocers were not allowed to let their Potatoes be Exposed to Light (Sunlight OR Daylight OR Artificial Light of any kind) for reasons mentioned above.
Yes, how Potatoes were Kept then was a Matter of Concern which was taken much more Seriously than it is these days. For instance, how often do we find our Local Supermarkets AND Fruit & Veggies Stores AND Market Places storing Loose Potatoes packed openly on the Shelves exposed to Artificial Light OR Sunlight sometimes in the Market.
In the 70s we had Green Grocers do the rounds of the Streets in a Van which their Customers can step into and choose which Items they would like to fill their box or basket with and they would then go to the next Customer. We still had TipTop Delivery Vans come back then too, and the Milk Man would come and leave Glass bottles of Full Cream Milk for you as well. But if you had a Car and it was Convenient, you could go to a Supermarket for your Green Grocery Items, Milk and Bread.
Now I will tell you something very important here: each time you stepped into the Green Grocer's Van, he always had a loose hessian bag laid over the Potatoes to protect them from Light Exposure, which he folded back while he Served you and Promptly Covered them afterwards. He always did this, there was No Exception - it was a Rule he always kept, so his Potatoes were Always in Good Condition for his Customers. They Never got any dodgy ones and it was then up to them to be Careful how they Keep their Potatoes to make sure they Stayed the Same. OK?
Well Supermarkets and Shops NEVER COVER THEM These Days, do they? and THEY SHOULD. I have said this for Years. So many things are Convenience orientated these days, and Appearance orientated. Are they not? And can I put this to you, considering the Seriousness of buying Potatoes that are starting to turn Green from Light Exposure or almost Ready to Sprout - often - when we buy them in Bags, we need to demand that New Safety Standards be Imposed on how they are Stored in Supermarkets, Shops and Markets for Our Protection AND Convenience, so we don't keep discovering we bought another Dodgy Lot of Potatoes when we get Home OR a Few Days later, hey?
Potatoes are pretty much most people's Favourite Veggie around the Family Meal Table and different to what many of us expect, are quite Nutritional (Good for You and Your Kids) so Lets see to it that New Standards are Imposed for Selling them and make sure we Store them Well, shall we?
We could phone the Health Department in our State about that,
and Consumer Business Services at 131882 and ACCC at 1300 302 502.
Lets get some Action.