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When it comes to snacking, plenty of people munch on the same thing every day, and there is nothing wrong with daily noshing on the same foods between meals, but you might run into a problem if you are having too much of it. Overeating a snack might lead to a stomachache, but it could also have much deadlier consequences, which is what happened to one Massachusetts man.
The New England Journal of Medicine described his story, explaining how every day for the two weeks leading up to his death, the man ate a bag and a half of black licorice. If it were any other candy, he likely would've been okay aside from gaining weight, but black licorice contains something called glycyrrhizic acid, which can lower the body's potassium to a deadly level, causing issues with the heart's rhythm. That's what happened to the man, who collapsed in a fast food restaurant and died the next day.
Doctors discovered his potassium was dangerously low, which led to the heart problems that caused his death. In the article, cardiologist Dr. Neel Butala explained, "Even a small amount of licorice you eat can increase your blood pressure a little bit."
Aware of black licorice's dangerous qualities, the Food and Drug Administration has warned that eating two ounces of the candy every day for two weeks could cause an irregular heartbeat. The Hershey Company, which makes Twizzlers, also weighed in, with a spokesman telling the Associated Press that all of the candy maker's products "are safe to eat and formulated in full compliance with FDA regulations." However, they did note that candy "should be enjoyed in moderation."