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Eating potatoes that are sprouting?

11 replies

milkyways · 08/08/2011 20:41

Has anyone heard that eating sprouted potatoes is dangerous in pregnancy. I remember reading something about this in a pregnancy book when I was pregnant with DD, but I've never found any other information and then I forgot about it. I think it had something with spina bifida. I've just eaten some sprouted potatoes but I'd cut the sprouts off before cooking and now I'm a bit worried. I'm 18 weeks.

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PotteringAlong · 08/08/2011 21:34

I do it all the time do I hope not ... :)

I've never heard that one from anyone though.

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kri5ty · 09/08/2011 08:11

i always eat them like that... i can't see why it would be a problem? It's just sprouting the same plant it has been grown from??? :)

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ThierryHenryismyBoyfriend · 09/08/2011 08:14

You shouldn't eat them when they start to sprout/going greenish as that means they are effectively 'off' and are starting to turn poisonous.

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kri5ty · 09/08/2011 08:16

www.lovepotatoes.co.uk/the-potato/faq/#Should%20I%20eat%20potatoes%20that%20have%20sprouted?

This is from the potato council milky (which is a division of the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board)

It says it is safe to eat sprouting potatoes, (it doesn't mention pregnancy, but i think it would have done if it was dangerous)

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milkyways · 09/08/2011 09:34

Thanks for the comments everyone. Good link kri5ty. Feel a little bit reassured...If only I could remember where I read about it in the first place!! Thierry do you know if it's okay to cut off the sprouting/green bits and then eat the potato?

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Tangle · 09/08/2011 09:59

From the same link:

"When potatoes are exposed to either artificial or natural light, they can develop a green colour due to chemical changes. These may make those green bits of the potato unsuitable for consumption but they can be avoided by simply cutting them out."

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notcitrus · 09/08/2011 10:01

Green as in mould you want to cut off - that's toxic.
Green as in bits round sprouts is just chlorophyll like in any other green vegetable and isn't harmful, though I'd cut it off anyway as it doesn't taste like nice spud.

Reminds me - I planted the last of my Christmas sack of spuds as they were more sprout than spud. Ought to dig one up soon!

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Tangle · 09/08/2011 10:06

sorry notcitrus - I disagree. When a potato starts to go green it begins to generate toxins in the green area. Potato plants are members of the nightshade family - its really not advisable to eat green bits!

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LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 09/08/2011 10:07

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notcitrus · 09/08/2011 12:05

[googles Food Standards Agency and potatoes]

I sit corrected - that will teach me to listen to biology lecturers about anything to do with real life!
Apologies for the misinformation - the FSA say "don't eat any green or sprouting bits of potatoes."