Over 200 People Are Killed by the “World’s Deadliest Food” Every Year — But Nearly 500 Million Still Eat It

Breeding low-cyanide varieties – Biofortified, safer strains are being introduced.
Promoting processing education – Teaching communities safe preparation techniques.
Developing rapid cyanide-testing kits – To check safety before consumption.
In Nigeria, the world’s largest cassava producer, government programs promote industrial processing to ensure safer, mass-produced cassava products.

Final Thoughts: A Food of Contradictions
Cassava is a paradox — a life-giving food that can also take life. It feeds half a billion people, yet kills over 200 each year. It’s a symbol of resilience, but also of vulnerability.

The tragedy isn’t that people eat cassava — it’s that too many are forced to eat it without the means to prepare it safely.

So the next time you enjoy tapioca pudding or a plate of fufu, remember:
This humble root is more than a meal.
It’s a story of survival, culture, and the high stakes of food safety.

Respect the power of cassava — and the knowledge that keeps it from becoming poison.