Non-edible pine nuts of the species pinus armandii and pinus massoniana originating from China have been found on the market, the Environmental Health Directorate of the Public Health Regulation Department said.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce had indicated that pine nuts from pinus armandi were the source of bitter aftertaste, mainly from underdeveloped kernels that had been blended with other pine nut varieties of Chinese origin by dishonest shippers due to the significant increase in pine nut prices and exported prior to November 2009.

Consumption of the pine nuts may give rise to a bad taste in the mouth. This reaction, along with other symptoms, has come to be labelled as pine nut mouth or pine nut syndrome. The bitter taste occurs either immediately or delayed by 2-3 days after eating and wears off after a maximum of two weeks.

The department said it has not been possible to distinguish a minimum dose at which the symptoms occur. Individual sensitivity greatly influences the perception of symptoms. Until now the symptoms have always been described as reversible and the Environmental Health Directorate is closely monitoring the situation with other European counterparts.

Consumers are advised to discard any remaining similar products of the same batch number which might have given rise to these symptoms.

For further information, the public should contact the Health Inspectorate Services between 8am and 3pm on telephone number 21337333, by calling personally at its offices at 37-39, Rue D’Argens, Msida or by email [email protected].