WHAT ARE SPROUTED POTATOES?
Potatoes that have started to grow shoots or eyes due to natural sprouting/ conditions are known as sprouted potatoes. Potatoes mostly get sprouted when stored for a very long periodor are stored in warm, humid conditions.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A POTATO SPROUTS?
Sprouting of potato leads to formation of glycoalkaloids such as solanine and chaconine in it. These two are considered to be harmful for human consumption to some extent.
Acc to studies, sprouting causes increase of solanine from 50mg/100gm to 500mg/100grm (beyond safety limits). Solanine is said to trigger cell damage and apoptosis.
On the other hand, chaconine exhibits toxicity in normal human liver cells.
EFFECTS ON HEALTH:
Effects can range from mild to severe.
Mild symptoms include nausea, vomits, stomach cramps, diarrhea, bitter taste.
Severe symptoms include dizziness, headache, confusion, slow breathing and death due to poisoning. But these cases are extremely rare.
Pregnancy risks include neural tube defects, cleft lip/ cleft palate.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
In some cases, if the sprouts are extremely small and the potato is still firm, we can cut off the sprouted part and use the rest of potato. But it is still better and safe to throw it out.
