By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICHPotatoes(photo credit: ING IMAGE/ASAP)In my regular supermarket, I buy mesh bags filled with red-colored potatoes. I have noticed recently when peeling them that they are more likely to have a green tinge under the skin than before. I heard that it can be dangerous to eat potatoes with the green stuff, as it is toxic.What causes the green color? Is it so harmful even after baking, broiling, or boiling in water? Does it have to be removed with the peel? I like eating baked potatoes with the peel because of the fiber; is eating one potato with green dangerous, or is it [only] harmful to eat a lot of them over time? If the green is harmful, why are there no warnings on the bag? – P.N., Kiryat MotzkinDr. Rina Varsano and Ziva Elishov of the Health Ministry’s Food Service reply: Glycoalkaloids named solanine and chaconine are toxins naturally produced in potatoes at low levels.Consumption of such low levels of these chemicals do not pose a safety concern to humans.But storage conditions – especially a lot of light, humidity and high temperatures – are mainly responsible for increases in the amount of toxins in potatoes during marketing and storage at home.The Health Ministry advises consumers through its website at www.health.gov.il to avoid consumption of green-tinged potatoes and explains how to store them so as to minimize the formation of glycoalkaloids.New strains of potatoes are checked for the amount of glycoalkaloids, and only those with levels lower than the maximum are permitted to be sold. The maximum level is 0.2 mg. per gram of potato. However, when potatoes are exposed to heat, light and humidity, the toxin level can exceed 1 mg. per gram of potato.If the level is high, the potatoes are very bitter. Eating these can cause illness in the gastroenterological and nervous systems and cause serious pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, contractions of the intestines, numbness and even hallucinations. In extreme situations, in which the toxin level reaches 3 mg. to 6 mg. per kilo of human weight, it can even kill.Thus, one should avoid eating potatoes, including their peels, that are green or have green spots. Note that even if potatoes with green spots are stored under good conditions and the color disappears, the toxin does not dissipate, so they should not be eaten.Peeling green-tinged potatoes reduces the level of toxins by 30 percent to 80%. Deep-frying and cooking them in a microwave minimize toxins only slightly.Heating up or baking potatoes with the toxin does not reduce the toxin level.It is best to store potatoes in a dark, cool and dry place.As for putting warnings on bags of potatoes, labeling packages of fresh fruits and vegetables is the responsibility of the Agriculture Ministry and not of the Health Ministry.My seven-year-old son was diagnosed at the age of two with autism. I have avoided taking him to the dentist.I was wondering whether dentists have special techniques to treat such children, as he is very wary of strangers touching him. I am afraid that when the dentist learns of his condition, he or she will be reluctant to examine and treat him. What should I do?– M.E., Modi’in RetiredJerusalem dentistDr. Steve Sattler replies: About 4% of modern societies have “problem” children, all of whom need to see a dentist sooner or later.There are three classical techniques to treat them – a full general anesthetic, a sedation technique (there are some five different methods to do this) and a slow “show and tell” visit for desensitization without using drugs.In all fairness, the sedation methods are the most efficient and most used.General anesthesia by a single dentist is not recommended, as it is potentially dangerous in young children, and on rare occasions, children have died.Show and tell and all the various psychological techniques are great but time-consuming, and many dentists, even pediatric dental specialists and their staff, may not have the time to do this.About 80% of these “problem” children are treated within a public system that is under budgetary constraints, so sedation is the most commonly used technique.If the child needs extensive dental care, general anesthesia can be used in one visit, with two dentists working together on your child. Speak to your dentist to find out whether he or she has experience working with autistic children and ask for a referral if necessary.Prevention, by brushing your child’s teeth properly from a young age, is of course the most effective.Rx for Readers welcomes queries from readers about medical problems. Experts will answer those we find most interesting.Write Rx for Readers, The Jerusalem Post, POB 81, Jerusalem 91000, fax your question to Judy Siegel-Itzkovich at (02) 538-9527, or email it to jsiegel@jpost.com, giving your initials, age and place of residence.
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