Berries With Peas Identified

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32213, 4 February 1970, Page 34

Berries With Peas Identified

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Feb. 3. Twenty green berries found in a packet of frozen peas by a Tokoroa housewife have been identified by the Government Analyst as black nightshade. They are not the more poisonous variety of the plant, deadly nightshade. The woman, Mrs A. T. Pearson, had earlier received a letter from the Health Departent saying that the

berries had been identified as deadly nightshade. The Hamilton Medical Officer of Health (Dr J. F. Dawson) said today that the letter sent to Mrs Pearson had inadvertently described the berries as deadly nightshade. “For some reason over the years the two varieties of nightshade, which contain different poisonous toxins, one of which is less poisonous than the other, have been confused and the term deadly nightshade loosely used,” he said.

“There is very little of the deadly nightshade plant in New Zealand, and the black nightshade is quite common.” However, Dr Dawson said the black nightshade berries found by Mrs Pearson did contain poisonous toxins and should not have been in the packet. He was not prepared to say whether the berries would have been harmful if eaten. The Napier Medical Officer of Health (Dr J. Ramsey) said today that his office was investigating the cannery process to find out if all care had been taken to exclude

foreign matter from the product. “We are seeking more information but no action will be taken if we are satisfied that the cannery was not at fault,” he said. He said he understood there had been some other instances reported to his office in the past few years of nightshade berries being found in packets of peas.

But to the best of his knowledge no prosecutions had followed.