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Akee Apple

Also known as: ackee apple, akee, ackee

Moderate concern

Unripe ackee contains hypoglycin A, a potent toxin causing 'Jamaican vomiting sickness' and severe hypoglycemia. FDA detains imports unless hypoglycin A levels meet FDA limits (<100 ppm in arils).

Found in

13 products

What it is

Tropical fruit (Blighia sapida); national fruit of Jamaica. Only the ripe arils are edible.

Vegetable-like culinary fruit (Jamaican ackee and saltfish).

Why it's flagged

Hypoglycin A in unripe fruit (severe hypoglycemia, fatal)
FDA import alert

What regulators actually say

"Canned and frozen ackee can be detained without physical examination if hypoglycin A levels exceed FDA's action level."

FDA Import Alert 21-11 on ackee — accessdata.fda.gov

Regulatory status

United States — FDA

Subject to FDA Import Alert 21-11; hypoglycin A limits enforced

European Union — EFSA

Imports controlled for hypoglycin A

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