Pine Nut Syndrome (PNS) – Alternatively termed as ‘Pine Mouth’
WHAT IS PNS?
- Characterized by a delayed bitter / metallic-type taste disturbance
- Occurs 1-3 days after the ingestion of good-tasting pine nuts
- Symptoms mostly resolve within 1-2 weeks, some cases known to last for months
- Amplified by food and drink intake
- Dependent upon the type of food and the individual
- Most people are susceptible to PNS but are affected to different extents.
- Nature and intensity of the symptoms vary over the course of the episode, normally peaking within the first two days and tailing off at the end
- Occasional complaints of headache, nausea, throat discomforts, diarrhea and stomach pains accompany the symptoms of taste disturbance
WHO GETS PNS?
PNS is a phenomenon that has affected large numbers of people from all walks of life. The 434 survey cases spanned 23 countries (4 continents) and involved people of different ethnicity, ages, genders, health conditions and lifestyles (activity levels, smokers/non-smokers; alcohol drinkers/ non-drinkers; diets). See page ‘Who Sold Them!‘ for a full list of countries and retailers that sold problem pine nuts.
Almost all victims (96% of total) have previously consumed pine nuts and have no known allergies towards it, 11% of whom reported experiencing PNS multiple times as they were unable to associate the problem to pine nuts in the past when there was less available information about this problem.
Reported cases of shared pine nuts mostly involved (1) all members of the group noticing symptoms OR (2) symptomatic individuals having consumed a larger quantity of pine nuts than the other members of the group [to be addressed in a moment].
Of 21 students and professors of Wageningen University that ingested 1g and 10g (the latter amount for those who did not get symptoms from 1g) from a supermarket batch consisting of 100% P. armandii pine nuts, 19 were afflicted with noticeable symptoms that were characteristic of PNS (subjects filled in a daily logbook describing their observations). The pine nuts ingested were within expiry date and tasted good at the time of ingestion (not rancid).
PINE NUTS THAT CAUSE PNS
Survey cases involved raw and/or roasted, rancid and non-rancid, fresh and stored, expired and non-expired pine nuts, mostly of Chinese origin except for Trader Joe’s pine nuts that labelled ‘Product of Russia and/or Korea’. The average estimated amount of pine nuts consumed was about 30g, with trigger dosages as low as 2 or 3 seeds. The 56 complaint samples collected were found to consist of pure P. armandii or a mixture of P. armandii with one or two of 6 other species (See page: ‘Pine Nut Species‘ for information on the different species).
Species composition of 56 complaint samples
DESCRIPTORS OF PNS SYMPTOMS
Bitter and bitter-metallic were most often used to describe the nature of the taste disturbance, although it was reported that the quality and intensity of the taste disturbance varied with different types of foods and at different stages of the PNS episode. (See page: ‘Food Effects’ for how the taste disturbance varies with different types of food). The chart below shows the frequency which other types of off-tastes were experienced.
Along with the taste disturbance, approximately 35% of the cases experienced other non-taste symptoms and these other symptoms have been represented in the chart below.
Both taste disturbance and these physical symptoms are often signals of underlying physiological disturbances and should not be so quickly dismissed as a non-health issue (as is done by many food authorities). No research proof of health problem does not equate no health problem! Please read the page on ‘Health Issue‘ for further explanations on the adverse impacts of PNS.
[Updated: 5 June 2011]
The Great Pine Nut Mystery 
Hello! I´m glad that I found this website. The “bitterness” got me right this morning, two days after eating the pinenuts. I hope it will disappear like its said here in the next weeks. Then I will answer all the questions.
Grace,
I completed the survey yesterday but want to add some more information. I ate only three or four nuts and developed PMS within 18 hours. I was able to return the nuts to the store (I had purchased nearly a pound!) so I don’t have any to send you. Also, I was afraid to taste them again. Since then, I have eaten pesto made earlier in the summer with different pine nuts and have had no reaction to them.
I don’t think I am officially a super taster, but there are two foods that are especially bitter to me: brussel sprouts and grapefruit. Those are about the only two foods I do not eat. However, in the last year I have found a few ways to prepare brussel sprouts that make them palatable to me.
Hope this additional information is useful.
Sally
Thank you girls for your enthusiasm and information! I’m currently very interested in the possibility that the genetic bitter taste sensitivity (PROP / PTC taster status) could be a reason for why only some people are affected by the incriminating pine nuts. I suppose that few know their PROP / PTC taster status, hence I’ve instead asked about general bitter taste sensitivity in the questionnaire– hopefully I’ll see some patterns there with sufficient responses on the survey 🙂 It would be very interesting if I could manage to test all pine mouth sufferers and non-sufferers who ate the same batches of ‘problem pine nuts’ to see if this bitterness sensitivity is a factor!
I am currently suffering from pine mouth, and my friends and family can tell you that I am less sensitive to bitter tastes than the average person. I happily dine on quite bitter wild greens the rest of them turn away, drink my coffee and tea black, enjoy strongly hopped IPA beers etc etc. I also am pretty sure I recall doing the PTC test as a kid, and although a few of my classmates recoiled at the bitter taste, I tasted nothing at all. Moreover, my significant other who due to his strong avoidance of bitter foods particularly vegetables (and the hated cilantro which tastes bitter/soapy to him) I suspect is a “supertaster” who ate the same amount of pine nuts as I is not yet experiencing the pine mouth symptoms.
Gosh – that would explain a lot. I was tested in science at school and was a positive PTC taster. This ‘taste’ in my mouth is VERY reminiscent of the drop I was given during the science experiment (twenty years and I can still recall the taste!).
Like Megan, I had the test in school and was negative for tasting the bitterness. I generally love bitter foods like raw kale, dark unsweetened coffee and chocolate, and grapefruit. This is my second time to get PNS, and it’s different from the first time. The first time I had a more metallic taste, and everything, even water, tasted coppery. This time it is just bitter, and I’m finding that eating bitter foods is easier than eating sweet foods. Meat and fats that have no carbs don’t seem to be too bad, but anything sweet is just overwhelmingly bitter. Also, washing everything down with water seems to help shorten the aftertaste. Last time that was not the case.
Dear Kirsten – has the taste disturbance resolved in the meantime? And if so, how long did it take to go away? I am curious because I do research on that issue in Dresden, Germany.
All the best
Thomas
Hi Grace,
Thanks for the work you are doing to try to figure this out. I just finished the survey and as you can see both my husband and I were affected by the same batch of Pine Nuts. I wanted to let you know that I still have some of the pine nuts. I would be happy to look into sending them to you if it would help.
Thanks again and Best of Luck.
Hi Jeanne! Thank you very much for helping out with the survey! Yes I am still collecting pine nut samples and will be very happy if you would send it to me! 🙂 At the moment, I still have very few samples (<15, I will have a couple of update posts coming soon — it's been a rather information-loaded week) and I will need a lot more for my research. I will look for your email in the survey results and send you my postal address. Thank you!! Cheers, Grace
Hi Grace,
I filled out the survey last night. I do have a few nuts left (they’ve been pan roasted) and would be happy to send them to you. Please send me the mailing address.
My good news is that the bitterness is subsiding. Yesterday was unbearable, but I tried really sour hard candy – Warheads – and it seemed to help. To me though, the Warhead was so sour that it was painful, but the relief from the bitterness was worth it.
I never thought of myself as a super taster, but I might be. For example, I can taste an off flavor in milk before the sell by date, when it tastes fine to everyone else. Also, brussel sprouts, broccoli rabe and turnips taste quite bitter to me.
Meanwhile, I’m going to stop using food products from China. I just noticed that the store brand apple juice in my fridge is actually made from apple juice concentrate from China–just dumped in down the drain.
David,
You may have noticed in my post above that two foods are especially bitter to me. I recall doing a taste test in high school biology where we licked a little paper. It was bitter to some people and had no taste at all to others. It was bitter to me.
I don’t know if you are a beer drinker, but I don’t like especially hoppy beers or IPAs. I read recently that people who find some foods bitter really taste the bitterness of hops.
I think there are some test kits that can be ordered on line to check to see if one is a super taster. I might look ino that.
Sally
Grace-I may have jumped the gun doing your survey on the first day of my symptoms. I woke up this morning with very little bitterness, but it came back after a cup of coffee with cream. A cup of tea was fine, but the banana bread brought it back. lol. Chased it away with a sour Warhead. Minestrone soup for lunch was fine after I added some Tabasco sauce – seems like spicy overcomes the bitterness. Pork roast for dinner was okay, but the green beans tasted nasty(hubby thought they tasted normal). Didn’t dare try wine yet-maybe tomorrow. This is SO curious! I plan to keep a food log for the next few days, just to see how long it takes for different foods to stop tasting bitter. Will keep you posted.
Dear Davilyn, it’s funny how you’re taking those crazy taste buds to war with Warheads! 🙂 It is indeed puzzling– there’s a lot of information right now, but with so much details and suggestions being provided by everyone, I believe that we will be able to understand more about the syndrome and at least be a little closer to solving the puzzle 😉 For now, I will just need some time to peruse and analyze the information. Thank you for helping out with the research and keeping a food log is a very good idea indeed! I have yet to receive any samples from Costco and will be very interested in your pine nuts indeed….. ok i’m heading over to gmail now to email you my postal address!
I first experienced the metallic taste in my mouth while drinking a glass of wine poured by a friend who usually selects wonderful wines. The wine tasted bitter, and everything I ate for the rest of the evening did too. The metallic taste remained in my mouth for thirty six hours before it started to really worry me. I read online about metallic taste, and what to do about it, then kept a clove in my mouth all night and put in a fresh one again in the morning. Then later in the same day, my husband said that he also has had a bitter (not metallic) taste in his mouth for the last twenty four hours.
The same friend who poured the suspect glass of wine asked me if I had eaten pine nuts. Yes, both of us had. We still have them. If you would like I can send them, and will find out tomorrow where my husband bought them. We are in rural Maine.
I am reputed to have very fine palate, but my sense of taste seems to be diminishing in the past year. I associate that with getting older, but it could be something else.
How can I help with researching this problem. It really is hard to get rid of the awful taste in my mouth. I am about to get another clove, and keep it in my mouth for the night.
Hi Grace
I am a relatively new sufferer and was astounded to discover just how wide-spread the problem seems to be. I had not heard of PNS beforehand and it was only after googling what I thought to be a ‘chemical’ rather than bitter or metallic taste that I came across a website which mentioned it. I was convinced it had something to do with the 5 hours I spent in the hairdressers on Sunday when I had both acrylic nails in-filled (so acetone was also used) and my hair dyed. My boyfriend brought a panini into the salon for me and it tasted absoluteley disgusting. Two days later and the taste still hadn’t gone away but was only triggered by eating or drinking (everything but still water). For me bread or bland carbs are the worst reactants.
It was only after finding the website that I remembered that the panini may have contained pesto but it was upon eating the panini that I noticed the taste which did not fit. Then, whilst reading the wikipedia post, which noted the symptoms presenting 1-3 days after consumption, I recalled eating a salad on the Friday evening absoluteley covered in pine nuts and I thought – bingo – that’s it!
As I am only 5 days in at the moment I will not complete the survey just yet but, as I said bread and carbs seem to be the worst triggers for me, along with organge juice (which tasted like it does after brushing your teeth), and extremely salty/sweet foods mask the taste. The taste does not seem to be going at all yet though and I have a slight tingling sensation on my lips (which again tastes chemical).
I think I am also what you refer to as a ‘super taster’ as I can identify brands of bottled water by taste (which astounds everyone I know) and can easily tell the difference between Coca Cola & Pepsi for example. Please contact me for any further information before I complete the survey as I find the subject simply fascinating.
Keep up the good work.
Joanna
Just finished the survey, but as my PNS was already in 2009 I couldn’t remember all the details. But above I read that in the survey you asked about ‘general bitter taste sensitivity’. I don’t remember reading this in the survey (and that was only moments ago 🙂 ). Maybe it was the survey before this one ?
But I do know that I have ‘genetic bitter taste sensitivity’ (as I took a test in a physiology practicum 30 years ago), and I don’t like beer (pale lager) because I find it too bitter (with beer I do have the experience that I like the first few draughts but after that it makes me shiver from the bitterness.
This is the second time I’ve had this mouth bitterness issue – the first time I even went to the dentist to see if there was something ‘dentally’ wrong. The symptom lasted about two weeks, and coffee in particular tasted disgustingly bitter.
This time I googled and found this site (amongst others, but this is a wonderful site with better information!). Ah ha!! I ate a salad with pine nuts on Tuesday and Wednesday and these symptoms started on Thursday! I queried the cafe over the phone but they couldn’t tell me where they got their pine nuts (as in origin), but I will check in person next time I’m there.
I’ve passed this site onto my mother (a botanist) who also finds it intriguing. I have joined the Facebook site and look forward to contributing my end of whatever I find to your research. Thank you for your care and attention to details!
Dear Kirsten – has the taste disturbance resolve din the meantime? And if so, how long did it take to go away? I ma curious because I do research on that issue in Dresden, Germany.
All the best
Thomas
Ik las in de NRC-bijlage van afgelopen zaterdag over het “pijnboompittensyndroom”. Ongeveer een half jaar geleden heb ik ook een dergelijke ervaring gehad – ik weet nu echter niet meer of ik kort daarvoor pijnboompitten had gegeten. Door de metalige smaak was ik van mening dat een vulling in een kies “lekte”. De tandarts zag geen beschadiging. Na een week werd de vieze smaak minder.
Ik vraag me af of het feit dat mensen vullingen (amalgaan) in hun tanden hebben er op een of andere wijze iets mee te maken zou kunnen hebben.
Beleefde twee weken geleden deze bijzondere smaakverandering na een pesto te hebben gemaakt van pijnboompitten en waterkers (heel lekker!). Via internet verlost van de gedachte dat ik een of andere narigheid onder de leden zou hebben maar dat de pijnboompitten de veroorzaker zouden zijn (al of niet in combinatie met amalgaam van de enige nog resterende vulling van dat materiaal?). Iemand meldde dat het roosteren van de pitten zou voorkomen dat die rare smaakverandering plaatsvindt. Is daar iets van bekend?
My friend called me last week asking if I knew of anything that might cause him to have a metallic taste in his mouth. As a physician, I’ve only heard of antibiotics/medications causing this phenomenon. Strangely, yesterday, I began noticing a bitter, metallic taste in my mouth! So I googled it and found some articles on Pine Mouth or Pine Nut Syndrome. Of course because I had had pine nuts on my salad for the past two nights, this caught my eye! It’s miserable as I love food. I noticed that eating salty foods helps with the terrible taste. Once I make it through the ‘one to four weeks’ (ugh!) of metallogeusia, I’ll come back and take your survey.
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I ate pine nuts last week and find I am suffering from PNS now- it is not fun! I can’t enjoy food at all. Although I find if I have a beer before/ with food it dulls the metallic taste and makes eating bearable.
I have been experiencing this!!! Thank God for this site and all the other blogs! I also feel quite nauseous? I ate a handful of pine nuts that had been sitting in a jar.. so I cant remember the brand. But sure as taxes.. 2 days later I began to get this weird bitterness at the back of my mouth. Its ok when I wake up but worsens when I eat. Im on day 4.. I realllly hope it doesnt last too much longer. Im scared it will never go away. I AM NEVER TOUCHING PINE NUTS AGAIN! The taste is almost like bile? and a bit soapy as well. Slight head ache with it too. Can someone suggest a remedy to lessen the effects?
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Took me forever to diagnose this, but i definetly am experiencing PNS from nuts purchased from trader joes. NOT HAPPY.
I to purchased nuts at Trader Joes and now have had it fo Two day with a headache.
I wanted to make pesto. I didn’t have pine nuts, so I used walnuts instead. It turned out pretty good! I’ve not had this syndrome, rarely eat them. But, maybe this substitution can help those who suffer with this syndrome!
I am becoming an unfortunate expert on this topic. Third time in a year I’ve had the annoying metallic taste! Usually lasts 5 days. Finally identified the culprit to be pine mouth. Mine was from Aurora Natural’s Pignolia Nuts (Pinenuts), bar code 655852000489, Product of China use by date 10/21/11 stored since purchase in the fridge. Reporting it to the FDA. http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm247099.htm
Dear Richard – has the taste disturbance resolved in the meantime? And if so, how long did it take to go away? I am curious because I do research on that issue in Dresden, Germany.
All the best
Thomas
I’m having my first and hopefully last experience with this. Thanks Trader Joe’s!
I am a lawyer in San Francisco , California, and we are looking for individuals who have experienced an aftertaste or other adverse reactions from eating Pine Nuts from Trader Joe’s. Particularly, we are seeking San Francisco Bay Area folks who can provide us with information about when and where they purchased the pine nuts, the symptoms they experienced, whether they still have the pine nuts, and whether they saw a warning on the package of pine nuts. If you can provide any information, please contact me at cristina.rubke@sflaw.com.
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I’m in the midlands uk and currently on my 3xrd day of pine mouth! It’s driving me crazy!
I am so glad to find this web site. I was convinced I was being poisoned by a vitamin or supplement that was contaminated. I threw them all out! I went to the dentist concerned I had an infection, virus or bacteria, but he didn’t find anything and didn’t ask about pine nuts. I’ve always loved pine nuts and it’s now basil season.
Thank you for your information and research.
so I just began experiencing this. really strange, not unbearable, but not pleasant. Whats weird is i ate shelled peanuts last night, that were old, and im not sure if they could be a possible cause?
i did eat pine nuts a few days ago in a posh baguette that i got from a supermarket though. disturbing to think that sainsburys could potentially be putting out these dodgey nuts?
Has anybody had this longer than 2 weeks? I am going on six months now. This has been very depressing and have not been able to enjoy eating and drinking anymore! Need to know if there is a cure for I don’t see this going away anytime soon.
I am on 9 months. I still have some bitterness on the tip of my tongue whether I eat or not. Most things taste ok now…..but coffee and chocolate are still not great. I’m beginning to think the pine nuts have done some permanent damage to my tongue 😦
Based on what I’ve read, it’s unusual for it to last that long. I’d recommend discussing this with your doctor, Julie.
For the first time in years, I decided to put pine nuts in my stuffing. The next day I noticed that every time I ate or drank anything, I had a bitter/metallic taste in my mouth. No one else who ate the stuffing has complained. I also ate about a handful plain while cooking. I googled bitter taste and discovere PNS. What a surprise! I have had it for 3 days so far.
The only pine nuts I have left are in the stuffing. Do you want me to send you some?
I bought them at Trader Joe’s in Massachusetts.
I am currently suffering from pine mouth. It is absolutely awful. IS there anyway to stop it, any foods to suggest that might taste normal?
I had eaten the same pine nuts before and did not have any problems
It was 2 years ago when I have also suffered from what I found to be colled now pine mounth. The bitter taste was extremely strong. It lasted for about a week and I have eaten just one day some pine nuts before that week. As I was in a business travel I couldn’t go to a doctor but I was really warried that something is wrong with my liver. I also tried to eat more sweet things but the bitter taste was even stronger after eating. I guess it had some beneficial effect on my liver or bill as my tongue was very clean. A colleague told me that she had once the same syndrome afer eating pine nuts. By the way, they were bought from the Netherlands, the long type ones, they don’t write on the packages which species.
This was a good article and very much appreciated. I’ve been experiencing Pine Mouth syndrome for the last 7 days after eating pine nuts that originated in China. The taste is fading now but it still noticable. It’s no fun. I keep wondering and would like to know what exactly is reacting to alter my taste and give me such a bitter taste. Thanks for your research.
I’m on day 4 of PNS after eating pine nuts for the first time. I live in South Africa and purchased the Pine Nuts from the Spar in a container labelled Mediterranean Delicacies, but not stating where the pine nuts actually originate from. I threw them out and have vowed never to eat them again.
I find that the bitter taste is starting to fade today so hopefully my taste will continue to improve now. I tried lemon juice which did help a bit and then resorted to sour gums – the type the kids eat and I normally hate!. They seem to keep the bitterness at bay but only temporarily. But at least they bring some relief.
Ate Trader Joe’s pine nuts two days ago. Can’t eat anything now without an absolutely horrible bitter taste. Had a sore throat for about an hour yesterday, and a constant bloated feeling and occasional mild nausea today and yesterday. My wife had the nausea yesterday, no bloating, and the bitterness is already subsiding for her.
I have got PNS – ate pint nut salad on Tues eve and developed symptoms Thurs worsening Fri/Sat (today). Thought I was going mad until read this thread.Shall go to the pub where I ate and ask them where they source their pine nuts as I regularly eat pine nuts purchased at Waitrose. I am also wondering if there is a link to pine trees which cause me asthma in summer??
Intrigued and relieved to know what the bitter/metallic taste is.
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I just discovered what the cause of the bitter/metallic taste in my mouth was today after going online. I ate a handful of pine nuts last Tuesday night, and on Wednesday I ate a piece of pizza with pine nuts, and it had the most horrible taste. Up to now, it’s still been bad. The foods that taste the worst are cheese (any kind), dry sausage, iced tea, breads, and grains (in general). Fruit is okay, but it leaves a bad aftertaste. I checked the brand of pine nuts and it was Alessi imported pignoli pine nuts, and they’re from China or Turkey. If you’d like, I can send you some of the pine nuts because I have a lot left.
I found this post quite by accident. I was researching on why really spicy foods (e.g., anything made with habanero peppers) tasted very bitter to me. The heat/spicyness does not bother me; but the bitterness does.
I then read about PNS and I have a completely different reaction to pine nuts. To me, they are sweet. I really like them, and if they were not so expensive, I would eat them more frequently. I do not have any of the reactions other people report.
What do you know about supertasters? Could that have a bearing on PNS? I suspect I am one, but I have never been tested. As for my tasting sweetness, I seem to be sensitive to that taste. A friend of mine makes very hot horseradish. He adds a small amount of cane sugar (but no beet juice) to his horseradish. When I eat something that contains his horseradish, I taste the sugar before I taste the hot/spicyness of the horseradish.
Also, there is something in a raw tomato which I do not like. I like all tomato products as long as they are cooked (e.g., crushed, sauce, stewed, and paste). It is only with fresh, raw tomatoes, that I can taste something objectionable.
Thank you google and all those investigating this problem. For the past 6 weeks I have had a horrible metallic taste in my mouth for a few days at a time, strangley triggered by eating or drinking. I do eat a small quantity of pine nuts on a salad or as a snack from a big tub bought a few months ago (I have not still got the bag so don’t know the type). I will now throw the remaining nuts away and when symptoms have disappeared look for a quality nut to try that is not armandii and report back.
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Wonderful web site. Lots of useful information here. I’m sending it to several buddies ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thank you for your effort!
10 hours of symptoms after eating no more than 2 tablespoons of pine nuts from China 36 hours ago. Bitter/sour taste in my mouth during and after eating and drinking, subsides a bit when I’m not consuming anything; but a pounding headache, occasional dry heaves, and now vomiting after a full meal and stomach cramps. Brand name Golden Sunrise Food– Produce of China, purchased at weekly farmers market in Oxford, UK.
I don’t know if I am a “supertaster” and I never did a PROP / PTC test, but I usually enjoy bitter foods, hops in beer, drink strong coffee in the morning, and like gin and tonic (extra lime!).
I grew up eating pine nuts in pesto, have never experienced this before (I originally thought I had a stroke!), and I’m not allergic to anything at all.
I may be having an entirely different reaction – i get light headed and feel like i had that one drink that makes one feel high but not drunk. This has happened to me in the past but not until today have i heard about issues with pine nuts from China. Since i just ate pine nuts this past week and again had this strange reaction – i am beginning to put things together. I never intend to eat anything from China again -and actually never even thought to look at where the pine nuts i was eating came from. I have eated pine nuts all my life but bought them from growers from New Mexico and never had this experience. But probably not a good idea for me to eat any pine nuts period.
I had the same experience. I had a pounding headache and very strong bitter taste in my mouth for a few days. I didn’t know what the problem was until I researched online about what causes bitter taste. Yes, it was pine nuts. I had some over my salad and ended up with a pounding headache and such bitter taste in my mouth that I couldn’t eat or even drink coffee.
I have symtoms straight away after eating pine nuts (seeds) Tingling lips, pain down my throat and then serve pain in my abdomin, vomiting and diarrhea for days, headache and can’t eat anyting that will stay in my stomach. Frighten to eat anyting after that
I had pine nuts for the first time last night. Within the hour, I had severe stomach pain and a couple bouts of diarrhea. I can’t help but think it was from the pine nuts.
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I’ve been eating pine nuts for years and never had a problem, until this week. I experienced a bitter taste in my mouth just about every time I ate, plus I just wasn’t feeling like my usual self – stomach ache/headache. I’m very appreciative of the research you’ve been doing into this issue. Because of the uniqueness of the symptom, it was fairly easy to find information online.
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For Pine nut allergy, there is a new scientific study published in the prestigious journal Molecular Nutrition and Food Research.
Here is the Pine nut article (safe link)
https://mega.co.nz/#!5BFyCCbY!XXCxNQ-mmunUBnMuH-uHSALM8N4ThgzV0c1HFEdvUO8
I have had the most bitter taste in my mouth for 2 days so bitter, in fact, that I felt the need to look on the Internet for the culprit. I came across “pine mouth syndrome” and it explained my condition completely! – I ingested several handfuls of raw pine nuts I had in my freezer and the next day (and another handful later) I developed this horrible taste. I ate and drank a variety of things trying to rid myself of the taste and it only intensified! – I am relieved to know what it is. I was going to throw out the nuts (they have been in the freezer a loooong time) but if you would like a sample of them I would be happy to send them to you. – I have had pine nuts many times before but not in the amount I ingested these last couple of days. I don’t recall ever experiencing this in the past. Glad to know it’s nothing to worry about. Just can’t wait for it to go away.
I’ve had very similar symptoms to all those described above. Before I’d heard of Pine Mouth i saw some doctors, one of whom thought I had oral thrush (which I’m sure I didn’t, and a dentist friend also saw no signs of it) and the other doctor assumed it was acid reflux, which didn’t quite ring true. And I did have pesto 2 days before the symptoms started showing which has alerted me to this.
Have you heard of any other examples of doctors struggling to diagnose this? Are there any clear distinction between the symptoms of these as far as you are aware? Any thought appreciated!
Yes! Thank you. I have been racking my brains and plowing through Google why I have this crazy bitter taste in my mouth. It’s not even just bitter. Sweet things taste a touch salty, savoury foods taste bitter and water…water just taste sour. I thought I was going crazy or worse, pregnant!
It’s been 3 days now…lucky I just ate a handful of pine nuts!
Dreadful symptoms with the only relief being finding this site. My husband and I were thinking we would need to update our wills! It is a crazy condition and something I have never heard of. Interestingly, I made two batches of pesto this week. The first I used italian nuts and my kids loved it. Second batch I found some “cheap” nuts at the supermarket. Next day, bam! Bingo – just checked, “made in China”…
OMG this pine mouth we speak of i definatley have and have had now everytime i eat for four days!! Thanks god someone has worked this out. I thought i was going down with some sort of cronic diesase!! i have has lots of pine nuts before and never had an issue but the pesto i had on the weekend from a random deli has definatley given me pine mouth.
Hi,
I am currently experiencing the pine nut syndrome. In my case, all my life I ate pine nuts from Spain and never had a reaction. Nevertheless, I have experienced one time before after eating peanuts from Trader Joes. At that time I couldn’t figure out what it was but this second time it was clear to me. The PNS appeared, in this occasion after 2 days after eating the pine nuts from trader joes again. The bag says they come from Korea, Russian and/or Vietnam. I am experiencing a bitter taste in my mouth all day with some headache. This is my day 3 and haven’t feel any improvement yet. I will be happy to complete the survey and to send a sample of the pine nuts. I couldn’t find the survey that everyone is talking about. Please let me know if I can be of help. More research is needed is this matter. Thanks
Sylvia
Hi
I have had a horrible metallic bitter taste in my mouth especially after eating and drinking for three days now. I noticed it first while eating what was supposed to be a gourmet meal. I couldn’t understand what the awful bitter flavour was in the sauce. I had the same bitter taste the following morning at breakfast and two days on – it’s still there. I looked on the internet for information and found out about PNS. It then dawned on me that one day before it started, I had had a tea with mint and pint nut kernels the day before in a café in Nice. I ate the pine nut kernels at the time and they seemed ok but 24 hours later I had this horrible taste. I really hope it goes soon – as Christmas is nearly here and I’m not looking forward to any food at the moment.
I have eaten pine nuts all my life. Handfuls of them, pesto, sprinkled on salads – And I’ve never had a problem. The last 2 times I have had a bitter taste in my mouth everytime I eat, lasting approximately 3 days.
It’s so weird.
Pine mouth. I have it :))
Ate pine nuts in salad then a huge handful at the start of the week. Three days on and suddenly this foul bitter taste took over my mouth. Everything tasted like sucking on tablets, chemically bitter. So far three days worth. Hoping it will soon stop it foul
I often get the bitter taste when I eat pine nuts or pesto and I know I am allergic to the pine pollen. I get massive red spots that go away only after a shower! Hope this helps!
I have it — Trader Joe’s pine nuts. Kale salad with pine nuts and parmesan on Thursday, and woke up Saturday with a slight headache, diarrhea and the worst bitter aftertaste in my mouth with everything I eat or drink. Hopefully it doesn’t last months like several other posters…
I made a large batch of pesto and I’ve had a horrid bitter or metallic taste in my mouth over the last couple of weeks. I ate the pesto yesterday and it’s terrible today. I’ve made a years supply and frozen it!!
Strawberries, raspberries, yogurt, potato, bread, all taste awful.
Not so bad with drinks
My friend bought me the pine nuts
I had a handful of pine nuts 3 days ago. 2 days ago, I noticed the bitter taste. Anything I eat or drink tastes horrible, and I end up feeling nauseous. Not fun. I was able to drink water yesterday with no bitterness, so I was hoping it was going away. Then I had V8 and quickly discovered it was not going away. 😦
Same experience here, but does anyone know anything about the substance that causes this lingering bitter taste? Is it native to this Chinese variety of pine, or is it because of chemical treatment of the nuts? Is it toxic or just an allergene in some people?
I have been allergic to pine nuts for a number of years and try to have no contact with eating pine nuts in any shape or form. My reaction is immediate as soon as the pin nuts is in the mouth which is my saving grace as I stop eating immediately the tast sensation takes over in my mouth. I experience vomiting and stripped throat and totally sick feeling. On the occasions when this has happened i quickly gargle iced water (when I can) which I think does help the tast sensation to a degree. But I do not escape the violent reactions that come from having been in contact with the pine nuts. Pine nuts are being added in so many foods eg pastry, salads and as a general garnish.
I have a horrible time with pns I have found eating coconut oil after thoroughly brushing teeth and tongue and letting the oil coat your tongue will help A LOT with what for me tastes like something dedicated in my mouth.
Are your symptoms immediate afer eating pine nuts? My reaction is immediate and most of my research indicates pnm is a taste disturbance that occurs a few days after eating pine nuts.
Is it possible that species of non edible pine nuts are mixed with edible by suppliers? Have recently used virgin pine nut oil (Siberian) for medicinal value as the nutritional profile is exceptional over other nut varieties. Experienced a constellation of symptoms after two weeks of use ( one teaspoon ) 2x daily. Initially gastritis with abdominal pain and lower GI cramps and cardiac arrhythmia,flushed low grade fever,(short term) nausea ,strong foul metallic breath and taste, sore throat,body aches, ocular headaches for several days. Initially thought was influensa,but not feeling the typical flu internal symptoms. After careful inventory review of dietary intake the only difference was the Siberian pine nut oil. This is my third day without the pine nut oil and the cramping,abdominal pain,nausea,body aches,ocular headaches,cardiac arrhythmia have stopped, but the metallic,grainy throat irritation remained but less intense. In the past I have consumed pine nuts(organic) without physical reaction. Reading these other responses dating back to 2009, one questions the safety of consuming pine nuts and their oils? I have two allergies that I am aware of alcohol and penicillin, but no known food sources. Any further resources that are verifiable would be appreciated.
I came across your writeup while googling why I have a sudden bitter taste in my mouth. You have listed that it’s pine nuts from China and about Traders Joe pine nuts. I like you to know that the pine nuts I had eaten was from Trader’s Joe which my daughter just bought for me when she was in US last week.
I had eaten them few days ago but no bitter taste. Last night I ate a bit more of it. I ate roasted cuttlefish after that. I womder was it a reaction with the cuttlefish as well.
I also notice raised tiny bumps on
my neck and face. They are not itchy and cannot be seen. I know they are there only when I touched my neck and face. They feel like millia. I wonder is it from the pine nuts too. Anyone experienced this?
I experienced PNS 6 weeks ago. I had bought a bag of pine nuts from Trader Joe’s ( a product of Korea, Russia, and Vietnam). It was Sunday when I bought it, and I made some salad with those pine nuts for dinner. On Monday night before going to bed, I felt hungry and ate about 2-3 handful of the pine nuts. On Wednesday, everything I ate was extremely bitter. I thought my Mocha was bad, maybe my food had too much mint, maybe my aloe juice has gone bad,… Then I thought maybe there was something wrong with my gallbladder. I started searching online, and I found out that there is this weird phenomenon called Pine Mouth Syndrome. I called FDA and reported my case. After 4-5 days, I started feeling anxious since I couldn’t enjoy eating anymore. My family doctor said he had never heard of such a thing and proscribed some acid reflux medications for me! My family counselor had me eat pieces of bread and told me that I was imagining the bitter taste! So hurtful! I hope all doctors would update their knowledge so that they won’t make their patients feel worse! Anyways, it took two weeks to feel better in my case. On the day 7 or 8 things were tasting not as bad. Then, it slowly started getting better. Even though it is all gone, I can still remember that nasty taste in my mouth. I hope anyone who is suffering from PNS feels better soon. It may take less than 2 weeks for a lot people. I wish you all a soon recovery.
Hi, I am so glad I found this website. I was about to go crazy thinking I was struck by a horrible disease! I live in Harare, Zimbabwe. I bought a packet of pine nuts from Spar store on 26 May to make Pesto as my garden herbs are plenty. While making the sauce I ate few of the nuts. Just after two days I started having the bitter taste in my mouth… and did’nt know what was causing it? Thanks for this site I now know there is something called PNS !! I am just waiting how fast would it go away?
Hello,
Thank you for sharing this! I ate pine nuts two days ago and today I had a really bitter/metallic taste in my mouth. I’ve hardly consumed anything because it gets worse after every sip/bite. So glad someone has explained it! I was worried.
My daughter and I were on a cruise. About 3 days into it we started to notice everything we ate tasted like dirty copper. At first I didn’t say anything b/c I thought I was going crazy. Finally, my daughter mentioned that the watermelon she was eating tasted like metal. We compared notes. We both had it, both started at the same time and it lasted about 3 weeks for both of us.
Kind of sad, you go on a cruise w/ all that great food and everything tasted weird (things w/ higher fat content like meats and cheeses weren’t as metallic tasting.)
I can’t swear to it, but we both started our cruise at the salad bar in the buffet, and they always have pine nuts, which we both like and PROBABLY both put on our salads. This was 2008 and it has remained a mystery to both of us until I found this web page. Thanks for this information.
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I seem to have acquired this from eating pine nuts. Observations: Took about 24 hours before first symptoms, 48 hours until peak. The problem is not a bitter taste in my mouth, I have confirmed it is a change in the behavior of taste receptors in the tongue. I can lick anything, and it tastes bitter. I can still taste sweet and sour, but bitter predominates, no matter the substance. Prediction: I predict the pine nuts are modifying, through changes in gene expression (hence the delay), the behavior of the bitter taste receptors in the tongue.
This is the second time I have experienced these symptoms. Each time after eating raw pine nuts in a salad. I had eaten pine nuts many times before and no reaction. And I generally enjoy bitter tastes (bitter leamon, tonic, rocket) but this awful taste in the mount triggered by anything I eat or drink is horrid. Chicken soup tastes soapy, strawberries taste bitter – anything I except water or herbal tea triggers the bitter response. The first taste of anything is ok, but the bitterness quickly sets in and stays for several minutes after eating or drinking. Onset was about 1.5 days and its been 3 days already. The previous time it lasted a week.
I had this happen again this morning because I was in a hurry the other day and bought awful Chinese pine nuts from Kroger, made pesto. Now I have the bitter mouth HOWEVER there is an antidote for this: ginger. Drink ginger tea, or eat fresh ginger or make tea from it. The best commercial ginger tea is Yogi, bar none. I have had 3 cups thus far, plus some Ginger Chews and the bitterness is all but gone. I can enjoy the food I eat at lunch. NEVER will I buy pine nuts from China, or any food item, just not safe, unfortunately. Good luck everyone, get some ginger.
Both my husband and I are experiencing pine nut syndrome, from pesto I made with pine nuts from Winco Foods bulk food bins. The pine nuts appeared to be fresh in appearance, taste and smell. Two days after eating the pesto, we both had a bitter taste in the back of our throats when eating food. Tastes awful!! Today is the 3rd day and I think mine is slightly better. Why aren’t the stores paying attention to this! Very frustrating, such a nasty taste. Also gave me headaches.
WINCO is still selling bad pine nuts. I had no idea there was such a thing as pigment mouth syndrome, but I do now. Bought them in bulk supply four days ago. Made albondigas soup three days ago and ate extra nuts I had (a handful). Had soup two nights. Started noticing foul bitter taste in back of throat. Googled bitter aftertaste following food or drink and up popped pine nuts. I am also having slight sore throat, sinus draining, some numbness of tongue and diarrhea. I love pine nuts, but will never eat them again. I have even had them right out of the pine cone, but no more.
I like many other people thought I had developed some kind of peculiar disease or allergy, which I guess is exactly what happened. Never dreamed it was due to pine nuts.
Just wanted to add, we have been able to eat a few items with minimal bitterness. Fresh tomatoes with mozzarella and balsamic vinegar, scrambled eggs, wheat toast. White bread was horrible as was avacado. Tea, both black and herbal was ok.
Read my post from a few days ago…ginger is the antidote, lots of ginger. Tea, fresh, as much as you can consume. The bitter taste will go away far more rapidly and you will be OK.
As for the stores – I am afraid we consumers have to go to our stores with articles/web links in hand and file complaints to start an awareness movement. Or maybe it would make for a great 20/20 segment, or CBS Sunday Morning.
Thank you for posting your remedy, Cynthia — I absolutely HATE ginger, but by gosh I’m going to go dig up some ginger tea and give it a try — it can’t possibly be worse than this bitter taste in my mouth!
Never knew this could happen. Persistant bitter taste for 2 days now. Pine nuts from a local supermarket. Hartbeespoort Dam, South Africa. Ginger flavoured Rooibos tea the only thing tastebuds can handle at the moment. 😦
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Thank goodness for the internet and Google. I never would have associated my “metal mouth” to the pine nuts I ate 2 days ago. This is horrible not being able to eat anything without that bad taste in my mouth. I live in New Mexico and usually eat local pinon (pine nuts). Two days ago I ate some that were purchased at Sam’s Club by a friend of ours, I believe they were from China (definitely not New Mexico anyway). Something needs to be done about this!! The FDA knows about this but why aren’t they doing more to stop imports of bad pine nuts?? This is one of many reasons I don’t trust the FDA to keep us safe from harmful products.
I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I don’t know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
I got PNS two days ago after eating pine nuts form Sam’s Club: Amport Foods Pine Nuts, 15oz bag. It contains pine nuts from China, Portugal, and Spain. Amazon also sells this product. I am overpowering the bitter taste with raw lemon. It works until the next time I eat.
This is the second time I have experienced pine mouth, and the resulting bitterness that follows 3-5 days after eating them. This time I only ate 5 or 6, in a salad from Whole Foods, which I foolishly assumed had the “non-Chinese” pine nuts. Nope, checking back with Whole Foods today, they sell and use pine nuts from China, shame on me for my blind trust. Never have issues with pine nuts from North America or Italy, only ones from China. Bitterness not as bad as first time, but still surprising considering the very small amount I ate.
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Thank God I found this website the first time this happened, I never would have figured this out otherwise. I’m now experiencing the persistent, soapy bitter taste for the second time, and am certain pine nuts are responsible. Both times it was with the same bag of pine nuts under the brand Amport Foods, purchased from Sam’s Wholesale. Species of nut unidentified, possible countries of origin are listed as China, Portugal, and Spain. I think I’ve consumed nuts from this bag six times. Symptoms only with times #4 (lasted a week) and #6 (ongoing), but no problem on #5. Each time I ate around 30-40 nuts, split between raw in tea and cooked in kibbeh. I’ve never had issues prior to this, even with a previous bag from the same source (Amport Foods/Sam’s). Others who ate the same meals with me report no issues. Tongue seems like it has a slight but unusual milky coating, which I understand could be a symptom of yeast (Candida). Eating sugars/starches intensifies the bad taste most strongly, and saltwater rinses reduce it; these also seem to back up a yeast hypothesis. Perhaps something in certain pine nuts encourages yeast growth, suppresses competitive flora, or suppresses natural body defenses. I will finish the bag, but will try roasting the portion I’d normally consume raw in tea, and see if it seems to make a difference. For others currently suffering, give saltwater rinses a try (or possibly other yeast/Candida treatments), hopefully it will provide you the same relief it does for me.
Thank You for this article. It really helped out me and husband, as we were trying to figure out why we had a bitter/metallic taste in our mouths. When I seen PINE NUTS, I was shocked. But it was correct, we recently purchased Pine Nuts from the local grocery store couple days ago.
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Maybe it’s just me, but these posting seem very fake…all of the posting have the same kind of sentence structure and bad grammar.
Is this: 1) an attorney trying to drum a class action suit, or 2) some interested party that has an interest in some other country’s pine nut industry (not China from the looks of it)?
Dear Thomas,
I don’t know about other posts, but mine is real! I did experience PNS, and it was one of the worst things that has happened to me. It was very disturbing. The bitter aftertaste was so bad that I don’t eat pine nuts anymore.
About the sentence structure and bad grammar, my writing is not good maybe because English is not my first language. 😦
Don’t worry, Monika. Your written English is much better than Thomas’.
Thanks David! 🙂
Wow I had no idea these ALL looked fake. Or that the structure of sentences was universally similar, or grammar was “ALL” bad. My opinion:
1) an attorney probably (sweeping generality here but I feel that appeals to your “all” statement suggestion) has an adequate grasp of grammar.
2) Are you suggesting the pine nut industry has started this obscure website with the nefarious intent of sabotaging China’s booming pine nut farming? (or that of any other country’s burgeoning pine nut industry) There are as many, or more, notifications regarding Chinese pine nuts as other nations’ pine nuts. I’m unsure, from your post, as to whether you think this is in support of China’s or other sources of pine nuts.
I’m not an attorney, and I have a full and excellent grasp of grammar and syntax. My daughter and I both had issues with pine nut syndrome (once for me and twice for her) and we have no idea of the origin of the nuts. We were both relieved to determine the possible cause the distortion of our sense of taste.
Being married to an attorney for over 30 years, I have to say, were this a class action suit, it would get the members of the class about 65 cents each (on a good day) since there have been no reports of lasting problems; merely taste distortion for a limited amount of time. It’s difficult to see how the respondents have been harmed, rather merely inconvenienced.
With a whopping 102 responses in over four years, whoever started this website and is posting fake responses is surely slacking on the job.
Dear Thomas:
I am suffering this right now, at this moment. Bought mine from bulk container at Winco and Winco is on the list. May you develop pinenut mouth syndrome and eat your words and everything else with bitterness. How dare you call others liars!!! I am a retired meThank you Sharon!!dical transcriptionist not an attorney. I am just grateful I found out what did this to me because I was really worried about my health!!!
Thank you Sharon!!! This PNS is horrible!!!
I appear to be suffering from PNS after consuming a “Spicy Seed Mix” packed in England (email me if you want full details). Since I was totally unaware of this, I continued eating them for a couple of weeks. The constant bitter taste began to concern me and after a bit of research I came across PNS. In fact, contrary to what is normally reported, I remember hot chocolate tasting bitter immediately after eating them and I think, though I cannot be certain, that this was the first time. I stopped eating them a few days ago and the bitterness is subsiding now, though black coffee still tastes very bitter and I am still aware of the constant taste. Pine nuts are not explicitly included in the ingredients which are: Sunflower, PumkinSeeds, Sesame Seeds, Soya, Linseed, Flax seed, Hemp seed, Red Pepper, Wheat Flour, Flavouring [sesame, soya and wheat highlightetd as allergens]. There is also a warning that it may contain Milk, Peanuts and Tree Nuts. Best before date was May 2015
Myself, my colleague and her mum are all suffering with a bitter taste after eating the Spicy Seed Mix I believe you are referring to. The tub was bought in aldi. I wonder where to go from here, as I think it should be highlighted. Back to aldi and to the food standards agency maybe. I also felt I’ll the evening after eating them, couldn’t eat my tea, felt sick, bloated and tired. I think it was connected as I felt fine when I woke the following morning.
Apparently they weren’t bought in Aldi but in Home Bargains. Sorry Aldi!
I am also based in England. Recently we’ve had a bit of pine nut shortage so when I noticed them on sale again in my local Sainsburys I was delighted. I ate them 3 days ago and yesterday started to show symptoms. The food and drink tastes fine in my mouth but when I swallow I get a sharp astringent taste. I thought at first it was the onset of a cold until a friend told me about the pine nut thing. I’ve just checked the packet and they are definitely Chinese.
So how long it’s this misery going to last? I’m a chef… This is a nightmare.
Oh gosh Jane! Good luck. Not being a chef (just one who enjoys food), it wasn’t such an issue for me. But my daughter and I were on a transatlantic cruise (15 nights) when it occurred and 12 of the days, everything tasted like metal. As you said the after taste was worse than when the food was actually in our mouths. Part of the luxury of a cruise is the wonderful meals. This time, not so much.
It lasted about 3 weeks for us. Not knowing what it was, a year or so ago my daughter made pesto and had the same issue. That time it lasted about a week. I have no idea if it was because of the source of the pine nuts, the amount ingested or some other factor. Good luck! The only good thing I can tell you from our experiences, is that it WILL go away. Eventually.
I am also based in England. Seems like i have got PNS 1 week ago after eating Tesco ‘s Pesto sauce . Bitterness does not seem to go away.
Don’t despair. Ours lasted between 2 and 3 weeks.
Mine has more or less gone now.
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Anyone else have this symptom and also experiencing other symptoms – forgetfulness, nausea, speech issues – things that seem neurological? I am wondering if there is a neuro component.
We suffered taste disturbances with imported Chinese pine nuts for a long time after eating them.
My spouse began to experience kidney pain and is being treated for kidney damage by her doctor now.
Bought approximately an oz (about a large handful worth) of pine nuts from Winco on Sunday. Ate them over the course of Sunday and Monday. Started noticing the bitter taste on Monday/Tuesday. I also was very disturbed by these effects and am grateful to have found this blog. No more store bought pine nuts for me.
Assist The exact same thing for me. Also bought at Winco. Bitterness went away by following week for me.
I am eating Italian pine nuts for years with no problem .we used in meat ,meat boll ,in salad …the romans used them in they food .once I tasted pine nuts imported from china and they tasted like shit and I brought back in place of purchase we don’t eat nothing from china buy imported Italian nuts .or anything also
I had pine mouth a few months back and bought them from Winco. First time I had ever had pine mouth. Lasted for 6-10 days. I grew up in Italian household, pine nuts were a common staple in our refridgerator..ate a dozen lbs or more a year I bet.
2 or 3 nights ago I went to winco and snacked on just 6-10 pine nuts out of the bulk bin, forgetting about my last experience – I haven’t eaten pine nuts since as I surely didn’t want to experience this again.
Round two.
Hello.. I have it bad from a 150g of Tesco pine nuts, BB Jul 2015 L4304A 900 2 13:40 Produce of China
Hi all, I am from the uk and have recently had a severe reaction to pine nuts in an ASDA pesto sauce. I had vomiting and diarrhoea for a day and two days later i am still off my food and have that metallic taste in my mouth.
The jar of pesto did say it contained pine nuts but no warning on any possible allergic reactions. i am also concerned at this sauce is not made in the uk but italy and my worry is that the manufacturer may be using poor imported pine nuts from china that are known to be worse.
I have sent comments to the food standards agency in the uk asking them to investigate
That’s where I bought mine from too (Home Bargains). I have emailed them, but heard nothing from them.
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I am currently suffering from pine nut syndrome, but the scary part is I have no idea when or where I ate pine nuts! After figuring out why I would occasionally get this horrible metallic/burnt coffee grinds taste in my mouth I have completely avoided pine nuts and read ALL labels at the grocery store. I haven’t been out to eat, so it couldn’t have been that. I am so frustrated because mine always lasts 2 weeks and I hate it! Like others, I used to enjoy pine nut pesto until this began about 4-5 years ago. I thought I was crazy for about 3 years. In the world of Viagra, can we not come up with some remedy for this?
I never had an issue in the past. I experience this about 4 months age for the first time, I suffer 2 other genuine food intolerances and had never experienced anything like this before. it took seven days for the strange metallic taste to go away. I steer clear of pine nuts and know to look out for them, like the other triggers I need to stay away from with my other issues. Today my co- worker cooked her lunch, including a store bought pesto, in a microwave right before I heated my homemade lunch in the same microwave. BEWARE, that was enough for it to happen to me again… I hadn’t consumed any pine nuts.. I though I was mad, nope.. that’s what it was… Blasted Pine Nuts again…
I love pine nuts & have been eating it for a 2/3 years. But a few months ago I bought some from a shop I have not used before. 24 hours after eating pine nuts I got the metallic taste. It last about 4 days. I have since tried these same pine nuts four times with the same result. My family who are these meals with me, had no side effects. I usually love bitter tasting things like Brussels sprouts & marmalade, beer etc. But when I have this syndrome even eating an avo makes me want to be sick, it’s so bitter. Fyi I have believed for some years that I do have a recessive gene PTC gene that does not process the taste of bitter as well as other people.
Not just metallic taste for me, but also nausea, dizziness and upset stomach. This sucks. Mine were from Winco bulk.
Totally real!!! I’m glad I finally discovered what was causing the bitterness.
Try lemon juice people! I have had this pine nut bitter twice now and I love pine nuts so I take the risk. And find myself searching for PNS info once more. I have noticed that not many people mention what they have tried to counteract the symptoms. So….
Things that FAILED:
EATING or drinking sweet things.
GARGLING salt water.
Things that have WORKED (well reduced the problem):
BRUSHING my teeth and the back of my tongue with minty toothpaste straight after eating .
LIMITING snacking or tasting while cooking. I keep eating to 3 meals and I don’t sip on a drink, i try to drink it more or less in one go. This limits the amount of time you will experience the bitter taste.
WATER doesn’t disturb as much as other flavoured drinks
LEMON JUICE!! I squeeze some fresh lemon into hot water and drink up- this has helped more than anything, neutralising the bitterness. This is much more practical than constantly brushing your teeth.
Since I have found lemon juice to work I have stopped trying to find other cures but might I suggest that others who are suffering share what works/doesn’t work for them? The above may seem simple and just common sense but I only really started trying to “cure” myself the second time around- so I hope this helps people the first time around….
I love pine nuts also, but will never let one pass my lips again. I would love to have pesto, but no pine nuts and I think they are an important part of pesto.
There are many different nuts and seeds that make great pesto, you don’t have to give it up. Shelled hempseed are my favorite, but sunflower seeds, almond and walnuts also work well. And I like pistachios too – it doesn’t taste the same, but it’s delicious.
I have made pesto with walnuts and it’s been wonderful. I too have suffered from pine nut syndrome, they will never cross my lips again. Lasted for weeks. Lost 5 pounds because nothing tasted right, not a weight loss solution I would recommend.
I had this for 10 days after making pesto for a party of 15. Of the 10 who had the pesto, only 2 of us had a disgusting bitter taste which lasted 7-10 days. Salty and sour foods were better, (eg shrimp with soy sauce or lemon), but any carbs or sweet things were revolting (rice, pasta, juice, bread- yuck!) Thanks for the site.
I start having severe bitter taste in my mouth 36hrs after taking the pine nuts, the bitter taste was getting worse and worse together with vomiting, nausea and bowel disturbance, the first three days was terrible I dun even want to think about it, even the Drs couldn’t say the reason until I google and found it myself! Well now I am relieved that I knew the reason, I still have the mild bitter taste in back of my tongue will nausea but I feel like I am getting better. Just a good advice for those who have this problem; rinsing your mouth with half a tea spoon of baking soda solution it will help a lot as it will neutralize the bitterness of your mouth!
P.S. I hope the food industry can give more precautions as this pine nuts mystery is unknown to most of the people
From experience, I know that I’m susceptible to mild zinc poisoning. After a pine mouth experience, I noted that the symptoms I had were the same – or at least very similar. Also, many of the symptoms besides the metallic taste, are consistant with zinc poisoning.
I know that pine nuts are naturally high in zinc, but shouldn’t benear enough to cause poisoning – not at normal intake, anyway. But because of my own susceptibility to zinc, I’ve learnt that some people keep a higher storage of zinc (simplifying a bit), which makes them experience zinc taste at a lower intake than people closer to zinc deficiency.
Therefore, I wonder if there has been any reserarch on this. Does pine nuts affect zinc metabolism or the intake or excretion of zinc? And can the symptoms be explained by zinc poisoning?
I have searched through most of the comments here trying to see if there is any mention of belching a turpentine taste (a comparison from the smell of turpentine or varnish) type reaction from eating pine nuts. Several years ago on a trip through New Mexico my sister-in-law bought a bag of pine nuts. She offered them to me and I took one nut and shortly after started the ‘turpentine belching’ . . . it lasted all day! The next day she decided I had just gotten a bad nut and offered me more. Again I took one nut but I scraped a wee bit of the nut off with with my front teeth and had the same reaction to the wee bit as I did to the one nut. I didn’t have issues with it affecting the taste of foods but the ‘turpentine belching’ was extreme and very unpleasant. I have searched the internet and can’t find anything referencing this ‘turpentine belching’ to pine nuts. Am I nuts or have you come across anyone with this problem. I’m including my email here for anyone who wants to reply. Please put pine nut in the subject line so I don’t figure it’s junk mail. Thank you. Jeanneane dot Askey at bresnan dot net.
Just found out our family has PNS.
It was bothering me the whole day since the morning. I was just about to go the the pharmacist because I felt bad and my oldest child tells me he has this poisonous feeling in his mouth the whole day. His younger sister after hearing him, says she also has strange feeling today in the mouth. After discussing it with my wife over the phone we narrowed it down to Pine-caused. And now I read this web site!!!
I would regard myself as very bitter sensitive person (I do not drink beer because it is too bitter for me).
We ate Chinese origin small pine nuts,smallest on the market, starting 2 days ago and then yesterday. I know they are the smallest because I picked the smallest in the shop and they all had small hats like on the picture above. Sometimes pine nuts do not have these hats. Maybe the hat is the problem.
This bitter feeling is getting me crazy. I cannot do any work, can barely think. Any solution would be appreciated.
Regards
John S.
Have been experiencing this terrible issue for the past 48hrs – eating nothing but water (and that takes all my concentration) for the past 24hrs.
I had eaten pine nuts 2 days prior on my salad.
I purchased pine nuts from Raleys.
The product is “Vacaville Fruit Company snackins’ Pine Nuts”
Labeled as ‘Packed by Vacaville fruit Co., Vacaville, CA 95688
Upon closer examination…the ingredients: Pinenut kernnels (Product of China)
Irritating to say the least
Thanks for the good information & good luck to all who follow….
I have been experiencing the taste symptoms described on this site for 2 days. We bought 2 packages of a generic store brand of Pine nuts from Publix about 3 days ago. One is still unopened. My wife made a delicious pesto with half of the 1st package. Everyone in the family ate the pesto but I have been snacking on the remaining pine nuts. I don’t think anyone else has eaten the nuts plain other than me. So far, I am the only one to be experiencing the symptoms.
What made me look this up was the taste of dinner last night. My wife and I ate out at a nice restaurant and everything tasted metallic, especially the pork. I had noticed this earlier in the day but had brushed it off. I woke up this morning with the idea that the metallic taste was perhaps my body trying to tell me I had a health issue. So, I Googled it and found this site. I am somewhat relieved since most posts state it is temporary. Hopefully this will go away in the next few weeks. I love all nuts but am likely not eating pine nuts after this. Please let me know if pine nuts from a particular country are found to be the culprit since I prefer Pesto made with pine nuts.
Regards,
have PNS after eating a salad from Whole Foods in Southern California. never had a problem before!
I just had a very violent gastric reaction to pine nuts. This was the second time in 2 weeks. I didn’t know what it was, but now I know it’s the pine nuts. I felt nauseous both times and vomited. It was so bad today that my throat and nose had a little bleeding. My face turned blood red, swelled up and had small bumps. It was an IMMEDIATE reaction after only eating a few nuts. I feel better now that everything is out of my stomach and my face swelling has gone down. Am I ok now? What was that about? I went online and read about “pine mouth.” Since it’s a tree nut, will this happen to me if I eat another tree nut? It was truly horrible.
I purchased them from Sprouts in Culver Cuty, CA.
It sounds as if it was an allergic reaction that you had to the pine nuts. PNS isn’t really an allergic reaction. More like a genetic idiosyncratic reaction. Your reaction could eventually become life threatening if you have a more severe allergic reaction along with anaphylaxis. PNS is mostly annoying and distressing, with altered taste for anywhere from days to weeks.
If I were you I’d avoid tree nuts until I had allergy testing done.
Funny, I recently (the past week) had the Now Foods organic pine nuts from China that I ate with salad, not plain, and felt no symptoms but I am actually no longer going to eat them because I avoid eating anything from China due to the heavy pollution there and I didn’t realize it at time of purchase.
Hi, I’ve had PNS for the very first time here in the UK. Went to the dentist first- no dental cause, now my GP thinks I’m barking! Thank goodness for Google, am so looking forward to getting my taste buds back. My husband had the same homemade pesto, with no reaction, but I did snaffle a couple of extra helpings of pine nuts. It’s enough to put you off pine nuts!
Wow ! I started last year with this problem, I mean, 11 months ago. I ate some pine seeds, around 30 gr, covered with chocolate. I used to eat pine seeds from time to time without any trouble. Here in Mexico we use to eat the pink pine seed because it´s smooth-flavored and sweet, the oil doesn´t feel intense but, that last time I ate the white pine seed. I started to feel a weird taste in my tongue, worried and such I asked my medic for blood test trying to find if I was poisoned or something and nothing showed in results. Also I asked to dentist, maybe a tooth could provoke that but nothing. I had the bad taste, kind of bitter-metallic and it got worse when I drunk coffee or soda. After one month the taste dissapeared gradually. 11 months after, date Friday 6 november of 2015, I ate 2 pieces of pine seed, the pink one we use to eat in Mexico and guess what !! Two days after I started again with the PNS, having bitter-metallic taste, this time I noticed my tongue feels weird, sometimes like numb and super sensitive to any flavor, I can´t eat spicy food. Thanks for the lot of info here. Now I know I´m not crazy, maybe my wife can believe me I´m not mad.
Pine nuts are not related to the Pinion nuts of New Mexico. Pine nuts and Pinion nuts are different.
Having posted the previous post, I DID get pine nuts that I bought on a nut roll bar purchased from a New Mexico market, they were covered with pine nuts, most likely from China. I freaked out, had blood drawn etc. My doctor thought I was crazy.. Finally,
I found a post of some Norweigan study of “Pine Mouth”, in which a large group of people experienced these same symptoms after eating Chinese Pine Nuts. My Dad who is a botanist told me that pinion nuts and pine nuts are different. Shortly after, I found a bag of pine nuts from Sam’s Club that had a warning about this happening, I felt validated!
I am currently having the bitter sour taste that has become unbearable to eat stuff. I bought pine nuts from whole foods and ate quite a bit of them. 2 days later i have the sour taste. This is the first time this has ever happened to me.
Heklo to all,how is all, I think every one is getting more from this site, annd your views are pleasant in support of newusers.
Ran across this in the reply section of another Pin Nut article and thought it might shine some additional light on the mystery…
“Richard Genest 5/11/11 – 1:12AM
Pine mouth is a real phonomenon and one which is currently being addressed by the European food standards authority in cooperation with the Chinese producers to try to ensure that problem nuts are kept out of the market. Pine mouth is associated with one particular species of pine nut, Pinus armandii (or Chinese white pine).
Stahmann Farms (based in Toowoomba, QLD, Australia) has recently acquired the Ducks Nuts brand and has acted immediately to ensure that our customers are not at risk of pine mouth by directly importing and packing pine nuts of the preferrred variety, Pinus koraiensis (Korean Pine). We are pleased to answer any ongoing questions about pine nuts and deeply regret any poor experience our customers might have had prior to our takeover of this portfolio and we invite any customers with ongoing conerns to contact us – Richard Genest, General Manager Sales & Marketing”.
This is something I’d never I’d never heard of and I’ve been eating pine nuts for years! Bought them from Costco and Safeway, always product of China. All I wanted to find out is why they’re always from China. Never had “pine mouth”, maybe because I drink too much vodka. Interesting.
It’s a very annoying syndrome. My wife and I both got pine mouth after making homemade pesto. Now I use pistachios instead since I do love pesto. For us the bitter disgusting taste lasted 10 days and then went away. I called and reported the matter to the company whose pine nuts I purchased. They just need to know and were sympathetic and honest about the amount of complaints. I luckily had the bag still so was able to provide them with all the info and they were nuts from China. Nothing really seems to help rid pine mouth. Scrubbing my tongue with baking soda helped a little. I’m never buying pine nuts ever again as it really is the most annoying 10 days of hell my tongue has been through. I’d rather have a root canal than pine mouth! Yuck.
Unfortunately I am joining your company. The company I work offers free nuts as a part of healthy snacks offer. Pine nuts from China were on offer as well. I had them on Saturday and a day later started feeling the classic syndromes. I am happy to provider more details to the brand who distributes the pine nuts or take part in some research.
I just experienced the bitterness starting yesterday, after having pine nuts maybe 2 days ago. Since people report the bitterness lasting several days to weeks, I am going to try to shorten my suffering by repeatedly but gently scraping my tongue with a spoon to remove any plaque. I’ve done brief scraping twice today already and there is still bitterness but I think it’s a little better. While at work my options are limited, but tonight I plan to try the other suggestions of rinsing with Listerine for as long as I can stand it and then a 20 minute oil rinse.
So something in my regimen worked. Bitterness was cut by 70% the first day and completely gone the second day, even when eating watermelon or drinking wine. I think it was the tongue-scraping together with the oil pull that were most effective, if that helps anyone!
I am sure I have PNS, awful taste of mettalic and bitter for two days, ate pine nuts in a mixed bag of nuts 3/4 days ago, not happened before, shouldn’t retailers of this product make us aware. Presume cheap bsg of nuts with no traceability on it. Feels awful,veven drinking, chocolate tastes foul.
I ate pine nuts for years, no problem. Then about four years ago I had my first experience with pine nut syndrome. I thought I was experiencing poisoning! I googled persistent bitter taste and found out about pns. The nasty bitterness lasted about a week. I then , as an experiment, ate a few pine nuts. They tasted good, but two days later, the persistent bitterness returned, lasting at least a week. Consuming ANYTHING caused an increase in the bitterness. Truly awful! I will never knowingly eat pine nuts again. And if I should be afflicted with the persistent bitterness, I’ll know it’s due to pine nuts, not poisoning. This is truly a medical/science mystery, begging to be solved.
I experienced PNS after eating pine nuts from TJs some years ago. I cannot cite the source, but I recall that the explanation that I found most plausible came from a laboratory that suspected contamination with rodenticide, but I would think that, if that were the case, it would have been pinned down by now. In any case, government agencies are remiss in not blocking imports from the sources that are already identified.
FYI, It’s not just taste, it’s smell also. I’ve been a Pine Nut addict for about 2 months and have been fine. However, I ate some yesterday, and about 24 hrs later today, I ate 2 bites of a chocolate chip cookie, that someone else made, and it tasted and smelled like rotting animal… not that I’ve ever tasted one, but that’s what I’d imagine one tasting like. (Most of the Pie Nuts I ate were roasted in olive oil, and I only at a few fresh ones) I thought that perhaps the cookie dough they used or the oil was bad or something. However, 3 other people ate the cookies and said they were fine.
I, on the other hand, went and literally “tossed my cookies”, or at least the little bit of cookie that I did eat, then brushed my teeth and tongue, and gargled with mouthwash, but couldn’t seem to get rid of the taste from the cookie. I then washed my mouth out with water, then pop, and gargled with pop, which mostly got rid of the taste, but I still had some of the taste lingering in the back of my tongue and even throughout my sinuses.
After going through all of that, I then asked my daughter to bake our store bought cookie dough, which was surely not expired. As they started to bake, I could smell them and they smelled foul. That’s when I realized the problem wasn’t the first cookie that I ate- The problem was me.
I thought I was going crazy or that something was really wrong with me. I knew about Pine Nut Mouth, but didn’t think that was the cause, especially because the Pine Nuts that I ate yesterday were from the same batch I had at from several times prior, but the more I read about it, the more I believe that’s what it is. However, I find it really strange that no one noticed the smell of certain foods being an issue.
After the cookie incident, we baked a cheese and tomato pizza to see if that would be any better, and the smell was nowhere near as bad as the cookies, and it was much more tolerable to eat. However, there was a slight tinge of that foul taste, especially with the crust.
One other thing I noticed is that the smell of cigarette smoke had smelled strange, kind of like the cookies. However, when I closed off my breathing through my nose, it didn’t taste any different.
On thing is, I drink Mountain Dew chronically. It’s the sweetest, most sugary drink on the market. However, it tasted 98% fine in comparison to the 0% with the cookie. Perhaps it’s because of all the citrus in it. Who knows?
+Angela Reuss – Sometimes I wonder if there’s a cross contamination issue within the food supply somewhere… via ( e.g.) poor quality control, disgruntled employees or maybe an act of terrorism taking place along a food assembly line somewhere!?
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Need Remedy for Pine mouth –
see my Blog:
http://drwangremedy.blogspot.com/2014/04/pine-nut-syndrome-pin-mouth-facts-and.html
Pine Mouth Syndrome – Facts and Remedy / Cure
Kevin Wang
Several years ago I came down with a bad case of “pine mouth” after happily ingesting large quantities of pine nuts purchased at COSTCO. The pervasively bitter taste that this condition left in my mouth completely killed my appetite. I could hardly eat. Thankfully, this distasteful sensation dissipated after about 5 days. I’ve avoided pine nuts (at least in quantity) ever since.
Something to consider is that zinc plays an essential role in restoring the proper sense of taste. Zinc supplements are dirt cheap. Also, alpha lipoic acid—a natural supplement—helps to regenerate nerves and has been found effective in cases of anosmia (loss of sense of smell/taste).
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Its metal dental work (mercury) and the thyroid interacting with the pine nuts.
I can see dental work such as those (horrible) mercury amalgam fillings “possibly/maybe” playing a roll in “pine mouth” phenomena for some, but I’ve actually experienced “pine-mouth” on 3 separate occasions over a span of 15yrs and have never had those (horrible) mercury-based amalgam fillings. For what it’s worth/while we’re on the topic… amalgam fillings were incorrectly sold/marketed as “silver” dental fillings and are NOT pure silver as the original name implies, as they actually contain chemical properties of elemental mercury (which allows small amounts of silver, copper and tin to form an alloy) which ultimately makes up the “amalgam.” That said, those who have amalgam style fillings need to be aware that they actually leach mercury into the body over time and the leaching increases when one drinks hot liquids such as coffee, teas and/or when eating soup! Anyone who has amalgams should seriously consider having them removed by a professional asap(!) Why amalgam fillings were ever approved for dental work (and still allowed in some parts of the world) boggles the mind, defies sensibility, logic and the Hippocratic oath on so many levels 😦
Over the last few years I often have a tip-of-the tongue only metallic taste also sometimes feels ‘itchy’ — was checked out at local dental hospital for cancers etc – all clear but they then wanted to give me anti-anxiety med as a treatment for ‘burning mouth syndrome’ — I refused this as about the lowest anxiety person (confirmed by a neurologist – at which point I wanted to stop wasting UK NHS resources) – but still the mouth thing.
Pine nuts?? poss, will check as we use them in cooking.
One other thing I recently wondered about was sumac — at about the time I first experienced the metallic tongue tip my wife and daughter had been to Middle East and come back bringing zatar herb mix which is based around sumac and I’ve found that quite a few people have a reaction to sumac (note sumac is from a genus that includes poisonous plants, but then so are potatoes).
Still mystified by this symptom – just try to ignore it these days.
Good luck with research, but you might factor in sumac and ‘burning mouth’.
Recent scientific work has identified the source of pine mouth.
It is related to a species that grows in Asia (only).
There should be strict control of the source of pine nuts, and
a ban on nuts from Pinus Armandii.
See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4684458/
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