Why Peach Pits Really Are The Pits
Topic: Food
Your momma told you not to eat the pits... but did she tell you why?

They're poisonous.

Very.

See, peaches and almonds are actually related. And they both contain cyanide. The dose of cyanide that causes death in half of the test subjects to which it is administered (with the other half expected to live), also known as the LD-50 is 4 to 5 mg per kilogram in cattle. It's 1 to 3 mg per kilogram of body weight in humans, according to this site. It seems to be a quite comprehensive description of the toxin and its effects.

But the key thing here is that, according to horticulturist Ron Smith's site, peach pits have 164 mg of cyanide per 100 grams of weight. So a single 100 gram peach pit could conceivably kill a person, assuming you found one that heavy.

In James and the Giant Peach, they end up living in the pit (properly called the 'stone') of the peach. That means they are living in a house that has a high concentration of cyanide in its very walls. I expect they all die within a week, but that part gets left out of the story, because it's sad.

So peaches can kill you. Who'd have thunk it. Don't eat the pits.

I shouldn't have to tell you that, but it's amazing what some people will do on a dare.

International Cyanide Management Code for the Gold Mining Industry
Horticulturist Ron Smith's Site
James and the Giant Peach