Can You Get Cyanide Poisoning From Cherry Pits?
Surprisingly, yes. Cherry pits contain cyanogenic glycosides, natural chemicals that can release small amounts of cyanide when metabolized.
But don’t panic, accidentally swallowing a cherry pit isn’t likely to make you sick. It would take a large number of crushed or chewed pits to release enough cyanide to cause harm. Still, it’s smart to avoid chewing fruit pits and seeds, and to keep them away from small children.
If you’ve swallowed a cherry pit and are worried, or if someone has ingested several, call the Missouri Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222. We’re here 24/7 to answer your questions.
🍒 Want to learn more about cherry pits and cyanide? Check out our detailed cherry pits blog here!
Transcript with visual descriptions
Visual: Thumbnail image of cherries on a bowl with text: “Can you get a cyanide poisoning from eating cherry pits?” and the Missouri Poison Center logo.
Sound: Upbeat, light-hearted instrumental music begins.
Visual: Person 1, wearing a light blue shirt with pink flamingos, holds a cherry and looks surprised.
Person 1: When you eat a cherry pit, could your body REALLY convert it into Cyanide?
Person 1: Well, the answer to THAT question… is YES.
Person 1: Wait, what?
Visual: Person 2, wearing a blue t-shirt with “#Poison. Prevention” on it, stands behind a camera tripod and holds a paper with text.
Person 2: Yeah!
Person 2: Says so right here.
Visual: Person 1 crumples a piece of paper and gags.
Person 1: Ugh!
Sound: Gurgling sound.
Person 1: I got cyanide inside me!
Sound: Yelling sound effect.
Person 2: Well, calm down there, bud.
Visual: Person 1 clutches his stomach and screams in pain.
Person 1: Huh!
Person 2: Cherry pits DO contain cyanogenic glycosides,
Person 2: NATURAL chemicals that you can also find in the pits and seeds of many fruits!
Visual: Stock footage shows red apples in a bowl.
Person 2: Apples,
Visual: Stock footage shows a whole pear and a cut pear.
Person 2: pears,
Visual: Stock footage shows apricots.
Person 2: apricots.
Person 1: Well, that’s great. What, did the “Fellowship of the Fruit” hold council and decide that the only way to keep us from eating them was to cast the “ONE PIT” into the FIRES of the human digestive tract? Is that what they did??
Person 2: Breathe, bud.
Person 1: Huh!
Person 2: Look, when your body metabolizes cyanogenic glycosides, small amounts of cyanide can be released. But! It is extremely unlikely that accidentally swallowing a cherry pit will result in cyanide toxicity.
Person 1: Oh man, I never should have coated all those cherry pits in pink Himalayan salt and ate them like bar nuts before this shoot. Should I have?
Person 2: I’m sorry, you did what?
Person 1: Should I have?
Visual: The Missouri Poison Center logo with “1-800-222-1222” appears on screen.
Sound: Music fades out.
AVO: Got a poison question? Post it in the comments below, and we’ll answer it!
