Bitter Apricot Kernels Available On The High Street

Speciality food retailer Julian Graves has become the first retailer in the UK to sell bitter apricot kernels in its stores.

It is stocking the controversial product after demand from customers who firmly believe that a vitamin contained in the kernels may help destroy abnormal cells.

Julian Graves’ CEO Nick Shutts said many people, particularly those into alternative therapies, were convinced vitamin B17, or laetrile as it is also known, offered significant health benefits.

“Bitter apricot kernels, which are the seeds of the apricot fruit, are one of the highest sources of vitamin B17 but the kernels have a very bitter aftertaste and can be toxic if eaten in large amounts.

“As a responsible retailer, we cannot make any claims about the product’s ‘alleged’ benefits. All we can do is make them available and ensure the potential problem of eating too many in one go is highlighted.

He added: “As a specialist food retailer, we constantly seek new products to complement our core range of highly nutritious foods such as nuts, seeds and dried fruit.

Bitter apricot kernels, 250g, are available at £6.99 from Julian Graves’ stores nationwide, via mail order on 0845 602 4816 or online at www.juliangraves.co.uk