Nitrate-rich vegetables (e.g. courgette soup) given to young infants can cause severe methaemoglobinaemia.
Original statement
No Arabic original wording available.
Translation
Nitrate-rich vegetables (e.g. courgette soup) given to young infants can cause severe methaemoglobinaemia.
Origin
- Source status
- Archive editors
- Attribution
- Archive editors
- Origin
- https://eltayebat.com/rule/leafy-greens-cucurbits/
- Attribution uncertainty
- Archive editorial text and study selection written by the archive operators, not necessarily by Elawady.
- Claimed mechanism
Nitrate converted to nitrite oxidises haemoglobin; infants have low methaemoglobin reductase.
- Claimed health effect
Methaemoglobinaemia (cyanosis).
- Population concerned
Infants under about 3 months
- Geographic restriction by Elawady
none found
Scientific assessment
True – The statement is supported by robust evidence.
Certainty of evidence: moderate – Further research may still affect the assessment.
1. What was claimed?
High-nitrate vegetables can poison young infants.
2. What is demonstrably correct?
Correct: two infants (1 and 2 months) developed methaemoglobinaemia of 30.4% and 27% after formula reconstituted with concentrated courgette soup; AAP notes continued reports from home-prepared vegetable foods.
3. What is wrong or exaggerated?
The archive uses an infant-specific risk as an argument against greens for everyone.
4. What remains unclear?
Not applicable.
5. Which studies support it?
Savino 2006; Greer 2005; EU Reg. 2023/915 (200 mg/kg limit for baby foods).
6. Which studies contradict it?
None for infants.
7. What applies to Germany and Europe?
EU Regulation 2023/915 sets 200 mg NO3/kg for baby food and processed cereal-based food.
8. What is known about Egypt?
Home-prepared vegetable broths for very young infants are a relevant practice to warn about.
9. What practical conclusion is appropriate?
Do not give home-made high-nitrate vegetable broths (spinach, beet, courgette) to infants in the first months.
Assessment details
- Rationale for certainty of evidence
Case reports and AAP clinical report; mechanism well understood; EU sets low nitrate limits for baby foods.
- Source quality
Case report (2 infants) and paediatric guidance.
- Regional transferability
Applies in Germany and Egypt; well-water nitrate is an additional risk.
- Individual exceptions
Breastfed infants are not at risk even with high maternal nitrate intake (Greer 2005).
- Regional scope of the claim
- not specified
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026 provisional
In plain language
Very young babies can develop a dangerous blood disorder (methaemoglobinaemia) if they are given home-made soups of nitrate-rich vegetables such as courgette or spinach. This is well documented. It applies to infants in their first months, not to older children or adults.
Studies on this claim
Studies supporting the claim (3)
-
Courgette soup poisoning in two babies
Savino F et al.. Ann Nutr Metab 2006 · PMID 16809905 · DOI 10.1159/000094301Case series / case reportcited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checkedTwo infants under 3 months developed methaemoglobinaemia from concentrated courgette soup.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Report cases
- How was the study done?
Case report
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
2 infants
- What was actually found?
Methaemoglobinaemia
- How large was the observed effect?
30.4% and 27%
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Don't give vegetable broths to young infants.
- What are the study's limitations?
Two cases
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Infant-specific
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot show harm in adults.
-
Nitrate and infant blood disorder
Greer FR, Shannon M. Pediatrics 2005 · PMID 16140723 · DOI 10.1542/peds.2005-1497Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkabstract only checkedBabies can be poisoned by nitrate mainly from well water or home-made vegetable foods; breastfed babies are not at risk.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Advise on infant nitrate
- How was the study done?
Clinical report
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable
- What was actually found?
Infant risk specific
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Avoid home-made high-nitrate broths for infants.
- What are the study's limitations?
Not systematic
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Infant-specific
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot show adult harm.
-
EU nitrate limits for leafy vegetables
European Commission. Official document 2023Guideline / position statementindependent cross-checkfull text checked★ key studyThe EU caps nitrate in spinach, lettuce and rocket and sets a much lower limit for baby food.
Does the study support the specific claim? No · Methodological quality: moderate · Certainty of evidence: see overall assessment of the claim
Original publication · Scientific details
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Set limits
- How was the study done?
Regulation
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
Not applicable
- What was actually found?
Limits per product
- How large was the observed effect?
Not applicable
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Nitrate in EU greens is controlled.
- What are the study's limitations?
Limits are not health thresholds per se
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Regulatory context
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot show harm or safety at individual level.
No study in this group is marked as key.
Studies contradicting or limiting the claim (0)
No studies in this group.
Studies with mixed or unclear results (0)
No studies in this group.
Regional context
Germany / EU
EU Regulation 2023/915 sets 200 mg NO3/kg for baby food and processed cereal-based food.
Egypt
Home-prepared vegetable broths for very young infants are a relevant practice to warn about.
What applies in my country?
General scientific assessment
True True for young infants; not an argument against vegetables for adults.
The following areas of food safety are relevant to this statement:
- Pesticides and pesticide residues
- Contaminants (heavy metals, PFAS, PCBs, dioxins, nitrate)
- Pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, etc.)
Fruit and vegetables
Choose a country to see the checked information for it.
Limits: legal rules describe what is allowed, not what every single food contains. Measurement data come from samples and are meaningful only together with their method details.
Country of residence or purchase Compare with another country
References
- Methemoglobinemia caused by the ingestion of courgette soup given in order to resolve constipation in two formula-fed infants.. Savino F et al.. Ann Nutr Metab 2006 · PMID 16809905 · DOI 10.1159/000094301
- Infant methemoglobinemia: the role of dietary nitrate in food and water.. Greer FR, Shannon M. Pediatrics 2005 · PMID 16140723 · DOI 10.1542/peds.2005-1497
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food (Annex I, section 6.1 Nitrates). European Commission. Official document 2023