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Fact check: Overconsumption of black licorice can cause death, but not instantly

Ella Lee   | Paste BN
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The claim: Black licorice could cause instant death in seniors

Though phrases like “death by chocolate” or “sugar overdose” are often used in jest during the holidays, a post on social media claims one candy actually can cause untimely death.

“Experts warn black licorice could cause instant death in seniors,” reads an Oct. 12 Facebook post that acquired thousands of interactions.

While “instant death” is not a possibility, consuming too much black licorice can lead to death due to one of its ingredients, experts say.

Paste BN reached out to the post’s creator for comment.

Death by licorice possible, but not instantly

In January 2019, a 54-year-old Massachusetts man collapsed at a fast food restaurant and died shortly after. The culprit, doctors later said, was black licorice. 

In small doses, licorice doesn’t do much harm. It has even been used to treat conditions like bronchitis and inflammation.

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But due to a compound found in the candy, too much can be fatal.

“FDA experts say black licorice contains the compound glycyrrhizin, which is the sweetening compound derived from licorice root,” the Food and Drug Administration says on its website. “Glycyrrhizin can cause potassium levels in the body to fall. When that happens, some people experience abnormal heart rhythms, as well as high blood pressure, edema (swelling), lethargy, and congestive heart failure.”

The FDA says a number of medical journals have linked black licorice to health issues in people over 40. Eating 2 ounces of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could lead to hospitalization for irregular heart rhythms or arrhythmia, according to the agency.

The Massachusetts man had gotten in the habit of consuming one to two bags of black licorice a day for about three weeks, The New York Times reported. As a result, his potassium levels plummeted, which brought on cardiac arrest.

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Once black licorice consumption ceases, potassium levels are usually restored with no permanent health problems, according to the FDA.

Craig Hopp, a natural products expert at the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, told Paste BN in 2019 the risk of adverse health effects from black licorice is low if you stick to eating a common version of the treat instead of licorice root itself.

Our rating: Partly false

Based on our research, we rate the claim that black licorice could cause instant death in seniors PARTLY FALSE. Public health authorities say consuming too much black licorice can lead to death spurred by glycyrrhizin, a compound that can decrease potassium levels in the body. But you'd have to eat a lot of licorice for that to happen – and you wouldn't die instantly, as the post suggests.

Our fact check sources:

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