Peach and apricot kernels do contain some of the poisonous compound
amygdalin found in bitter almonds and in their outer casing. But this
is not very poisonous because persipan, a marzipan substitute, is made
from peach and apricot kernels (don't know how it is prepared though).
The flavour of apricot jam is much improved by including a kernel or two
in each jar of jam. I wouldn't sit down and eat a lot of peach kernels,
but I don't think they are likely to be fatal
I presume the cockatoo is eating the fruit as well as the kernels. As
birds go they are pretty tough. King Parrots ate my peaches last year,
but i don't think they bothere d
Sweet almond contains much less poison than bitter - old recipes
recommend using one bitter almond to 100 sweet to improve flavour, but
not more.
I remember an old record of a sparrow which dropped dead after
pecking an unripe green almond. As a child I was told that attempting
to eat green almonds would have fatal results.
Anthea Fleming
On 10/12/2018 1:08 PM, Peter Shute wrote:
I'm forwarding the message below because for some reason they're not
reaching the list server. Replies to the list or to Judith, please.
Peter Shute
with the stones.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Judithla<>
Date: Saturday, 8 December 2018
Subject: amygdalin> hydrogen cyanide
To:
Each day a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo is visiting an old peach tree in
my garden. Since ex-TC Tracy the local population of Rainbow Lorikeets
hasn’t come back, so the tree fruits quietly. Watching this lone
cockatoo yesterday, I realised that it’s chopping the flesh off in
order to eat the kernels. How is it still alive? …Any other records of
this?
Judith
SEQ 500m
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