Apricot Power Lawsuit

Understanding the Apricot Power Issue

The "Apricot Power Issue" involves concerns raised by the FDA about high levels of amygdalin, a naturally occurring compound found in the seeds of stone fruits like apricots. Apricot Power is a company that sells these controversial apricot seeds and products with amygdalin, despite the FDA’s warnings about the potential for cyanide poisoning.

FDA Warning on Toxic Apricot Seeds

The saga involving Apricot Power and its potentially hazardous apricot seeds began with a consumer complaint, triggering scrutiny from the Texas DSHS. Responding to the complaint, DSHS conducted tests on the seeds, which revealed alarming levels of amygdalin.

This discovery led to further investigations by the Commonwealth of Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, which confirmed the initial findings and painted a stark picture of the potential health risks, including severe cyanide poisoning.

Armed with these compelling data, the FDA took decisive action and issued a public health warning on May 24, 2024. The warning highlighted the dangers of consuming high-amygdalin products, describing symptoms ranging from mild, such as difficulty breathing and weakness, to severe, including seizures, coma, and even death. [1]

Apricot Power's Refusal to Recall Despite Health Risks

Despite the FDA's clear warnings about the potential for cyanide poisoning from their apricot seeds, Apricot Power has steadfastly refused to recall its products. The company maintains a different perspective on the issue and argues that apricot seeds, when consumed in reasonable quantities, are a safe source of vitamin B17, which is a whole new level of controversy.

B17 is a term that proponents of alternative medicine use to apply to amygdalin in an effort to promote it as a cancer treatment. However, the benefits of this B17 vitamin have no scientific backing and are not recognized as such by the medical and scientific communities.

Their stance is that B17, or amygdalin, lacks the essential characteristics of a vitamin, such as being a necessary part of the human diet. What’s more, medical and scientific authorities assert that amygdalin can be quite harmful and has the potential to release cyanide into the body when consumed. [2]

Even though there is a clear consensus from regulatory agencies on the hazards, Apricot Power has yet to acknowledge the risks and recall their dangerous products.

Dangers of Apricot Power Products

Because amygdalin converts to cyanide when ingested, eating apricot seeds can lead to cyanide poisoning and a range of serious symptoms, from dizziness and confusion to seizures and cardiac arrest. Moreover, acute and chronic exposure to cyanide can cause immediate life-threatening effects, long-term health issues, and even death.

Cyanide Poisoning Risk from Bitter Apricot Seeds

Amygdalin, found in bitter apricot seeds, can be an extremely hazardous compound when metabolized. Within the human body, amygdalin is converted into hydrogen cyanide, primarily through the actions of enzymes in the digestive tract. [3] This conversion process begins when the compound is exposed to the beta-glucosidase enzyme, which is present in the intestines.

The risk associated with consuming amygdalin-rich seeds like those of apricots stems from the ability of cyanide to inhibit cellular respiration. Cyanide interferes with the body's oxygen utilization by binding to cytochrome c oxidase in the mitochondria.

Without the ability to process oxygen, cells cannot produce the energy they need to function, leading to a rapid decline in bodily systems if a significant amount is ingested. [4]

Symptoms of Cyanide Poisoning

Cyanide poisoning is a serious medical emergency, which can manifest through a variety of symptoms. Here’s a detailed breakdown of these symptoms:

Initial Symptoms:

• Dizziness and Headache: As cyanide disrupts the body's ability to use oxygen, the brain, being highly oxygen-dependent, begins to suffer from a lack of oxygen, leading to dizziness and headaches.
• Confusion and Anxiety: These symptoms occur as the central nervous system reacts to decreased oxygen levels, affecting cognitive functions and emotional responses.

Moderate Symptoms:

• Shortness of Breath: Cyanide inhibits cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme critical for oxygen utilization in cells, particularly affecting the respiratory system.
• Chest Pain and Palpitations: The heart struggles to pump oxygenated blood, leading to chest pain and palpitations.
• Nausea: As the toxicity affects the digestive system and the overall metabolism slows down, nausea can occur.

Severe Symptoms:

• Seizures: Oxygen deprivation and the resulting disruption of neural activity can lead to seizures.
• Loss of Consciousness: Prolonged oxygen deprivation to the brain can cause fainting or complete loss of consciousness.
• Cardiac Arrest: In severe cases, the heart may fail to function due to the lack of oxygen and the buildup of toxic metabolites.

Depending on the amount of cyanide ingested, symptoms can progress rapidly, requiring immediate medical intervention to counteract the effects of poisoning. The treatment for cyanide poisoning often involves administering antidotes that can help to clear cyanide from the body and restore the ability of cells to use oxygen. [5]

Potential for Severe Illness and Death

Due to its transformation into cyanide, the ingestion of amygdalin poses a significant risk of severe illness and even death.

When amygdalin is consumed and converted into cyanide within the body, it interferes with cellular respiration by inhibiting the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase, which is essential for the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. Without the ability to produce ATP, cells begin to die, leading to organ failure and, if untreated, death.

The severity of the illness depends on the dose of cyanide ingested.

Acute exposure to high levels of cyanide can cause immediate, life-threatening effects, while chronic exposure to lower levels can lead to long-term health problems such as neurological damage and cardiovascular issues.

The potential for rapid deterioration and fatal outcomes underscores the critical importance of avoiding products containing amygdalin and seeking immediate medical attention if exposure occurs. The risks associated with amygdalin far outweigh any unproven benefits, making it a dangerous substance when ingested in any form.

Your Legal Options

If you've been harmed by Apricot Power's apricot seeds, you have several legal options to seek compensation for the injuries and damages you have suffered. To help you navigate the legal options and determine the optimal avenue for your case, we strongly recommend consulting with an experienced product liability attorney.

Grounds for a Lawsuit

To file a lawsuit for injuries caused by Apricot Power's apricot seeds, you need to establish specific grounds based on product liability laws. Here are the primary grounds for such a lawsuit:

• Design Defects: The product's design is inherently unsafe, such as the high levels of amygdalin in apricot seeds leading to cyanide poisoning.
• Manufacturing Defects: There are flaws that occur during the production process that make the product dangerous, even if the design itself is not inherently hazardous.
• Warning and Labeling Defects: The product lacks adequate warnings or instructions for safe use, such as failing to warn about the risks of cyanide poisoning from consuming the seeds.

To succeed in a product liability claim, you typically need to prove the following:

• The product was used as intended or in a reasonably foreseeable way: For example, consuming apricot seeds as a dietary supplement.
• The product was defective: Evidence that the apricot seeds contained high levels of amygdalin, leading to cyanide poisoning.
• The defect directly caused your injury: Medical records and expert testimony linking your symptoms or health issues to the consumption of the apricot seeds.

Currently, there are active lawsuits against Apricot Power regarding the dangers posed by their apricot seeds. Legal firms are accepting cases from consumers who have suffered from cyanide poisoning after consuming these products​. If you have been affected, it's important to contact a product liability attorney to discuss your case and explore your legal options.