I can't see that there was anything 'inadvertent' about the fact that comb honey harvested at the wrong time of the year, during a time of severe drought, in an area of known risk for the contamination of honey with tutin ended up poisoning at least 22 people? Rather, it was a miracle that more people were not poisoned, although I understand that some 20 packs of this particular batch of comb honey are yet to be located.

By the way, tutin (from the native Tutu bush Coriaria Arborea) is a toxin which does more than just make people 'sick'. Tutin is extremely toxic to humans, and the effects of tutin poisoning on the human body range from unpleasant through to lethal. Nausea and vomiting followed by tremor can be observed as little as three hours after ingestion. Severe (grand mal) seizures may then occur, and in some cases death may result from respiratory arrest.

Other symptoms include tachycarcia, tachypnea, difficulty breathing, delirium, blurred vision, excitement, weakness, dizziness, amnesia, stupor and coma. Mucous membrances may become congested, increased bowel movements and urinary frequency are sometimes seen.

There is no antidote to this toxin, and the symptoms can endure for between 24 hours and 5 days.

(Communicable Disease Bulletin, No. 1, April 2008, Regional Public Health, Hutt Valley DHB, Lower Hutt).