Important Warning: Love Black Licorice? You Must Read This

If you love black licorice, be careful—it could be deadly if consumed in excess. The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a critical case of a 54-year-old man from Massachusetts, USA, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest after consuming too much of the candy. 

According to the report, the individual was healthy with no underlying conditions and collapsed at a fast food restaurant, losing consciousness. 

He was transported to the hospital after receiving CPR from medical teams and was then taken to a hospital for further treatment, where doctors found that he required a ventilator because his heart rate was 40 beats per minute. 

Blood tests revealed significantly low potassium levels, but family interviews indicated he was "healthy as an ox," without chest pain or shortness of breath. 

Doctors continued to interview his family about his eating habits until they discovered a crucial detail: he regularly consumed black licorice in large quantities, several packages of the candy every day. "This candy contains high levels of glycyrrhizic acid, which disrupts potassium levels in the body, leading to an increase in cortisol levels. High cortisol levels can cause life-threatening cardiac and renal issues, high blood pressure, hypokalemia, and more. Even a small amount of licorice you eat can slightly raise your blood pressure," said Dr. Neil Butala, a cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital to the Associated Press.

Following the case, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a severe warning stating that individuals aged 35 and older are at risk even with just 56 grams of the candy per day over two weeks—it could be lethal for them. "We have seen cases of people in their 40s coming to the hospital with irregular heart rhythms and breathing problems, just from consuming black licorice."