Consumption of fa cai Nostoc soup: A Potential for BMAA exposure from Nostoc cyanobacteria in China?

Abstract

Grown in arid regions of western China the cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme – called fa cai in Mandarin and fat choy in Cantonese – is wild-harvested and used to make soup consumed during New Year's celebrations. High prices, up to $125 USD/kg, led to overharvesting in Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. Degradation of arid ecosystems, desertification, and conflicts between Nostoc harvesters and Mongol herdsman concerned the Chinese environmental authorities, leading to a government ban of Nostoc commerce. This ban stimulated increased marketing of a substitute made from starch. We analysed samples purchased throughout China as well as in Chinese markets in the United States and the United Kingdom. Some were counterfeits consisting of dyed starch noodles. A few samples from California contained Nostoc flagelliforme but were adulterated with starch noodles. Other samples, including those from the United Kingdom, consisted of pure Nostoc flagelliforme. A recent survey of markets in Cheng Du showed no real Nostoc flagelliforme to be marketed. Real and artificial fa cai differ in the presence of β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA). Given its status as a high-priced luxury food, the government ban on collection and marketing, and the replacement of real fa cai with starch substitutes consumed only on special occasions, it is anticipated that dietary exposure to BMAA from fa cai will be reduced in the future in China.

Key words::

• China
• Nostoc
• cyanobacteria
• wild harvesting
• BMAA

Acknowledgements

We thank H. C. Roney for scanning electron microscopy, W. G. Bradley for field assistance, the Harold K. L. Castle Foundation, the Wood Family Foundation, and Klara Farkas for research support.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.