Sensation of bitter taste in mouth_What could it be?

littlebug · Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 3

My pine nut affliction is finally over. It lasted about 9-10 days. It was absolutely awful for the first 3 days then gradually started to back off. By Day 7 it was still noticeable, but bearable. By Day 11 I'm sure it was completely gone.

By the way, the pine nuts I ate were raw, from Trader Joes, supposedly not from China according to the label. And the bag was brand new. I served them in a salad, which 4 other people ate, and I was the only one affected. Either I suddenly developed a pine nut reaction (which I never had before), or maybe there was one bad nut in the bag that I just happened to eat... those are my theories, anyway.

As far as I can tell, nothing makes it go away faster -- you just have to ride it out. I'm never eating another pine nut, which is a shame - they're tasty.

Bitterman · Newbie Joined: 17 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

Just checking in again to give an update on recovery time. In early July 2008, had eaten pine nuts (maybe a hand full in total - raw, roasted and in pesto) from Whole Foods USA grocer (brand name "Flavor Tree" - nuts from China/Portugal).

It took a couple of days for me to notice the bitter taste. Once I did notice, it was really bad for 3 days. It seemed to get better on the 4th day, but as the day wore on it got worse. I'd say it took 3 weeks for most of the bitter taste to go away. Unfortunately now, 6 weeks later, it still seems like I occasionally get the bitter taste back. But that may be just because I am more sensitive to the issue.

I did have a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) (liver, kidneys, etc) done a couple of weeks ago as part of an annual physical and everything came back normal. There were two liver enzyme results on the high end, but not dangerous. But I don't think the higher reading was from the pine nuts.

I did tell the doctor about the bitter taste and these postings relating to pine nuts. He had not heard of it before but thought it was interesting (at least he didn't laugh at me). I figured I'd mention it too him in case anyone else came in to their practice (large university affiliated hospital) complaining of a bitter taste. He could then ask "Did you happen to have pine nuts a couple days prior to the bitter taste?"

I'd like to thank all of those who took the time to post to this board. I was panicking for awhile until I ran across this board. From it, I concluded it had to be the pine nuts because I maybe eat them once a year. This Internet thing may have a future!

Concerned in Spokane · Newbie Joined: 25 Aug 2008 Posts: 1

I first noticed the bitter taste in my mouth when I was drinking cranberry juice and club soda. I thought it was from the Splenda in the cranberry juice--but it did seem unusual. I just started low-dose aspirin therapy so I was looking on the internet to see if it could be a side-effect. I stumbled across your site and I was so glad I did. Unfortunately, right before going on the computer I ate a few more pine nuts! Talk about poor timing! You are all right that it is especially bad after sweet things. Soy milk seems to help a little. I had a package left and it says the nuts are from China. Has anyone contacted anyone official concerning this problem. I am wondering about the lovely batch of pesto I made with them. Sad. Sad

Thank you again for the information.

Guest · Guest

Another pine nut victim here in the US. I bought my from Whole Foods in Scottsdale, Arizona. I will let them know there is a problem. And yep - made in china...planning world domination through poisoning pine nuts I suspect

Guest · Guest

This is just another report of the mentioned symptoms.

We are three persons in Reykjavik, Iceland.

We and ate pine nuts in a dish served 4 days ago.

The dish was a kind of blended vegetarian salad/pesto/cream containing mostly broccoli and pine nuts, among other things.

Nothing happened until 1-2 days after ingesting the nuts, when suddenly 2 out of 3 persons experienced an unpleasant and very strong and bitter taste in the mouth, especially when eating and some time after eating. The third person, who ate a smaller amount of the nuts, also had the symptoms, although more modest in strength.

The symptoms are still at full strength 4 days after eating the pine nuts.

The nuts were bought in a local supermarket, Bonus, here in Reykjavik. Unfortunately the bag says nothing about the country of origin, species of pine tree or any other useful information. The nuts are supposedly fresh and tasted fine.

I would like to refer again to the article mentioned earlier in this thread, which describes the phenomena, although it does not come up with a definitive explanation of the cause.:

Taste disturbances after pine nut ingestion M. Mostin Poisons Centre, Brussels, Belgium Case report.

http://www.euro-emergencymed.com/pt/re/ejem/fulltext.00063110-200103000-00036.htm;jsessionid=LGDQZlmtJJnJyCmLgbyNJgq0JmHkHNnBNT8mT1hgz2s0cpt2vy8m!-1101774500!181195629!8091!-1

briand · Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

This is amazing. I believe I am experiencing the same reaction. I had a salad that my wife prepared (thought she might be trying to poison me to collect on that big insurance policy) about 8 days ago. She had put pine nuts on the salad that she had purchased at Trader's Joes here in Michigan. Then 6 days ago, I was eating some cookies that my mother-in-law made and they tasted bitter. At the time I thought that she had used some old ingredient that was laying around their old kitchen (you know how that can happen with the old in-laws). The next day I started to have that same taste with everything that I was eating. I made the mistake of bringing it up to my wife who works in a local emergency room and I then heard all the really scary things that it could be. It was not until I came across this forum and linked it to the pine nuts. The one thing that I noticed is that the sensation on the tongue comes from the back center of the tongue. The other areas seem fine. Is this what everyone else is experiencing as well? I am just hoping that it goes away soon. Everything I eat tastes pretty disgusting after several days of this...

Natski · Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

I've had all the symptoms mentioned in earlier posts however the bitter taste has been with me for 6 weeks now. Is anyone else having lingering effects because this is really started to annoy me!

Is a liver cleansing diet the answer?

Guest · Guest

I thought I had dental problems or a stomach ulcer. I even had my son smell my breath. My mouth is so bitter. I researched on the web and found this post. THANK YOU. I went to my little bad of pine nuts and it said "product of china". Just about an hour ago I was sure I was dying what a relief to find out it was the pine nuts and I ate more today! yeehaw I will probably be stuck with this nasty it tastes like I brushed my teeth and ate grapes taste for another week, but at least I know I am going to live. How bizarre I have had pine nuts before and never had this happen.

joruizc · Newbie Joined: 21 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Another pine nut victim in Mexico. I ate a delicious pinenut cake and Chiles en Nogada (One ingredient to fill the chile is "pinenut") last monday. Two days before I started with this bitter taste in my mouth, specially when I eat bread and sweet food. It has passed 7 days and I still have the bitter taste just with some sweet food. Most of the pinenuts that are selling now in Mexico are from China.

joruizc · Newbie Joined: 21 Sep 2008 Posts: 2

Sorry, I mean two days after eating................

Sensation of bitter taste in mouth_What could it be?

LIFEFORM SOCIAL COMMUNITY NETWORK