The Ireland Food Safety Authority (FSAI) has issued a precautionary warning regarding potential health risks from the consumption of beans that are uncooked or raw. The warning reflects increasing concerns at a European level about steady, although low, reports of foodborne illnesses stemming from undercooked or raw beans.
Beans, which form a vital part of several diets due to their nutritional profile, contain lectins – natural proteins that are present in substantial quantities in legumes including French beans, lentils, peas, green beans, and kidney beans. Despite the nutritional value of these legumes, if not properly prepared, they could pose a risk to health, according to the FSAI. For dried beans, the FSAI’s recommendation is to soak them for a minimum of 12 hours, discard the water used for soaking, and then carry out a minimum of 30 minutes of boiling in clean water. For fresh beans, they should be adequately rinsed and then cooked or boiled for 10 minutes. When using beans that have been canned or preserved in jars, these are already cooked and all you need to do is to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer.
Dr Pamela Byrne, CEO of the FSAI, stated that, in recent times, lectins are being viewed as a possible source of foodborne illnesses in a number of European countries. This may be linked to increased raw vegetable consumption in plant-based diets. She emphasised that, while legumes are nutritionally dense, they must never be consumed uncooked or undercooked due to lectins. She added that the seriousness of any illness caused by lectins might be dependent on factors like the type and quantity ingested, as well as individual sensitivity. Consumers are encouraged to modify their food preparation methods to ensure safety.
As a natural form of plant defence, lectins can “hamper the absorption of minerals, including calcium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc” as per a guide on nutrition from Harvard University. They might also lead to digestive problems. That said, if prepared appropriately, pulses containing lectins can also have nutritional benefits.