Tokyo Food Safety Information Center » Good things to know »  Poisonous plants easily mistaken for harmless ones » White kidney bean (Fabaceae)

White kidney bean (Fabaceae)

White kidney bean is a white type of phaseolus vulgaris. Its varieties in Japan include white cranberry bean, true sugar bean, etc. Beans are used for sweetened bean paste in Japanese confectionery. If ingested raw, the saccharide-binding protein called “lectin” that is contained in phaseolus vulgaris causes vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
When eating phaseolus vulgaris, it is necessary to cook them until soft.


Characteristics

Symptoms If uncooked and eaten raw, they may cause vomiting, diarrhea, etc.
Venomous constituents Saccharide-binding protein called “lectin” that is contained in phaseolus vulgaris is known as one of the main substances for food poisoning. If cooked sufficiently “lectin” loses its activity.

写真:白インゲン豆
White kidney bean (Fabaceae) (picture shows true sugar bean)

 

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