Talk:Cassava
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Two elements
two elements in this article need clarification. First, the claim that it is now extinct in the wild. When did this happen? What is the evidence that this plant used to be wild? Is it possible that this particular species is domesticated (like corn)?
- The first external link contains an explanation. --Robert Merkel
Second, I do not believe that the plant contains cyanide. I believe it contains a chemical which, when oxidized, converts to prussic acid (or maybe cyanide) -- does someone know for sure? Also, not all varieties contain excessive ammounts of this chemical. That is, there is a difference between sweet and bitter manioc. I am not putting this information into the article myself because I do not know if this is two varieties of the same species, or two species. In any event, the article in its current state is a little misleading. Slrubenstein
I do not think the first link provides an adequate explanation. Whether it does nor not, an encyclopedia should. The first link does, however, clarify that cassava does not contain cyanide and that not all varieties of cassava require processing; I have fixed this part up, SR
Philippino tragedy
Reuter announced at 12:47 AM ET of 3/12/05 that the cause of the death of the Philippino children was more likely organophosphate. Rat poisoning was found at the site but organophosphates are used as insecticide so it's unlikely that rat poison was the cause. As a Vietnamese physician who loves to eat cassava, I tend to agree with this presumption because I have never knew any massive poisoning by cassava and even improper preparation of the root would not leave enough linamarin to produce large amount of cyanide to cause the reported acute symptoms.
- Thanks for the update. According to news reports at 3/12/05 there is still some uncertainty since the symptoms and facts could be explained by either theory, though the positive response of some of the victims to atropine suggests that you're probably correct. We'll know for sure when test results come in probably later today. --206.183.3.40 12:10, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)