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Akees Some products bans are for the protection of the agricultural industry; the FDA bans akees to protect you. This West African fruit, introduced into the Caribbean region by none other than Captain Bligh (its scientific name is Blighia sapida), of "Mutiny on the Bounty" fame, is extremely poisonous; it's the Fugu of fruit. Even the sole edible part of the akee, the fleshy seed coat, is only good when the fruit is fully ripe, neither before nor after that is it safe. It causes Jamaican vomiting sickness, which affects the central nervous system and is characterized by convulsions -- not a pleasant way to die. The fruit can be sold in canned form, which means that some expert has been involved in preparation to ensure a safe ripeness. Akees are usually served cooked and are said to have a texture like scrambled eggs or brains. An employee of Oxtail's, a specialty market in West Palm Beach, Fla., that sells canned akee, says she grew up eating akee in Jamaica. "It has quite a bland taste. It is also very oily, quite high in cholesterol, I'm sure," she says. The canned fruit is drained and cooked with onions, salt, pepper, and often prepared with salt cod. |