A hot pot meal almost killed you! The "culprit" turned out to be this common seasoning... Elderly and children should be especially careful!

Anyone who has tasted Sichuan peppercorns will never forget its crispy, spicy and fragrant taste. Sprinkling a handful of it in the hot pot can warm the body and stimulate the appetite.

However, recently a netizen said that when he was eating hot pot at Haidilao, the sesame oil and chili oil got stuck in his throat and he almost suffocated to death.

Image source: Internet

01

Why is Sichuan pepper fragrant?

The "peppercorns" we usually eat mainly include American peppercorns, Japanese mountain peppercorns, "vine peppercorns" wild peppercorns, bamboo leaf peppercorns, etc.

The fragrance of Sichuan peppercorns is so addictive that many people even buy Sichuan peppercorn oil specifically for their use because they like its fragrance.

In fact, Sichuan pepper oil is the oil extracted from the peel of Sichuan pepper. Sichuan pepper oil has a similar origin to the yellowish oil on our hands when we peel oranges and grapefruits. They both belong to the Rutaceae family in biology.

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

Sichuan pepper oil contains volatile substances such as limonene, myrcene, α-pinene, and terpineol, which together constitute the unique and strong aroma of Sichuan pepper.

02

Why does Sichuan pepper taste spicy?

In addition to the fragrance, the "numbing" feeling of Sichuan pepper is also the reason why many people are addicted.

Many people think that the numbing feeling of Sichuan peppercorns is a sense of taste. But the truth may overturn your perception: the numbing feeling we usually get from Sichuan peppercorns is a sense of touch - a numbing feeling like a slight electric shock.

So, how did it come about?

In simple terms, it is a kind of alcohol with a long name in Sichuan pepper, called hydroxy-alpha-sanshool, which is also known as Sichuan pepper numbing element. This alcohol can activate a nerve fiber (nerve fiber RA1) under your skin, causing it to vibrate at a frequency of about 50 Hz, which reacts to the feeling of numbness.

Moreover, the alcohol that produces this unique experience is found in several types of "peppercorns" that we often eat, including American peppercorns, Japanese mountain peppercorns, "vine peppercorns" wild peppercorns, bamboo leaf peppercorns , etc.

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

In fact, Sichuan pepper produces this "numbing substance" as an evolutionary self-protection mechanism to prevent itself from being eaten by insects and other animals.

03

Sichuan peppercorns are delicious, but beware of the choking hazard

However, we need to remind everyone that although the "numbing" feeling of Sichuan pepper is delicious, it is also an anesthetic that has a numbing effect on the nerves. If it chokes into the trachea, it may cause respiratory paralysis.

If you accidentally eat a large amount of pepper or directly inhale pepper powder, this compound will irritate the respiratory tract, causing the trachea, bronchi and lungs to contract, blocking the entry of oxygen, and in severe cases, causing suffocation and death. Some people even use it as a tool for committing crimes.

Similar cases have been reported occasionally. For example, in 1988, a US study documented eight deaths from respiratory suffocation caused by inhaling pepper, seven of which were suspected of murder and one was an accident; most of these cases involved children.

04

How to prevent it?

When eating peppercorns, it is recommended to pay attention to:

1. Eat in Moderation

Don't over-pursue taste stimulation and eat too much pepper or pepper oil at one time. Be careful to stop eating and avoid danger from eating too much, especially for the elderly, children and people with respiratory diseases.

Copyright image, no permission to reprint

As a type of edible oil, Sichuan pepper oil is not low in calories, and eating too much is not conducive to weight control.

2. Chew slowly

Do not overeat. If you are eating food that contains whole peppercorns, try to chew them slowly and don't eat too fast. Try not to talk or make a fuss while eating to prevent the whole peppercorns from being inhaled into your trachea.

3. If you feel unwell, rinse your mouth with clean water as soon as possible

Avoid allowing pepper to irritate the throat and respiratory system again. If the situation is serious, go to the hospital for medical treatment immediately.

References:

[1] Hagura N, Barber H, Haggard P. Food vibrations: Asian spice sets lips trembling. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2013;280(1770):20131680. doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.1680.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2013.1680ADELSON

[2] L. HOMICIDE BY PEPPER. J Forensic Sci. 1964 Jul;9(3):391-5. PMID: 14193213.

[3] Flintoff WM, Poushter DL. Aspiration of Black Pepper: A Case Report. Arch Otolaryngol. 1974;100(5):375–376. doi:10.1001/archotol.1974.00780040387012

[4] Cohle SD. Homicidal asphyxia by pepper aspiration. J Forensic Sci. 1986 Oct;31(4):1475-8. PMID: 3783113.

[5] Cohle SD, Trestrail JD 3rd, Graham MA, Oxley DW, Walp B, Jachimczyk J. Fatal pepper aspiration. Am J Dis Child. 1988 Jun;142(6):633-6. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1988.02150060067034. PMID: 3285663.

[6] Mack RB. Spice as a variety of death--black pepper can be lethal. NC Med J. 1989 Nov;50(11):627-9. PMID: 2608118.

[7] Snyman T, Stewart MJ, Steenkamp V. A fatal case of pepper poisoning. Forensic Sci Int. 2001 Dec 15;124(1):43-6. doi: 10.1016/s0379-0738(01)00571-0. PMID: 11741759.

Author: Ruan Guangfeng, Director of the Science and Technology Department of the Kexin Food and Nutrition Information Exchange Center

Reviewer: Xue Qingxin, the first batch of nutrition instructors of the National Health Commission, China registered nutritionist

The cover image and the images in this article are from the copyright library

Reproduction of image content is not authorized