Dangerous falafel: Why Egyptian 'ta'amiya' can pose a health risk
Within ten days, two unrelated children were admitted to Rambam Hospital after developing acute red blood cell breakdown during a vacation in Egypt. In both cases, the families were aware of the danger of consuming fava beans but were unaware that Egyptian ta'amiya, which resembles the familiar Israeli falafel, is based on them. One child was hospitalized for several days, while the other required a blood transfusion.
Two children who recently returned from a vacation in Egypt were hospitalized at Rambam Hospital after eating ta'amiya, the Egyptian version of falafel, which triggered acute anemia. The children, aged 8 and 12, suffer from G6PD deficiency or belong to families where the condition is known, but they were unaware that, unlike Israeli falafel, ta'amiya is traditionally based on fava beans.
Both cases occurred within ten days and were treated by Dr. Reizy Gruda-Zusman, a senior physician in the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Department at Rambam. Although the families are unrelated, both children returned from Egypt with similar symptoms of rapid red blood cell breakdown, including jaundice, dark urine, and a sharp drop in hemoglobin levels.
"The clinical picture was very clear," says Dr. Gruda-Zusman. "He arrived with very low hemoglobin. We checked all other possibilities because we didn't want to miss anything. When I asked what he ate, the family insisted he didn't eat fava beans, but mentioned he had eaten falafel. Only then did it become clear that the dish was actually Egyptian ta'amiya, which is based on fava beans rather than chickpeas."
"In the second case, the family knew the child was sensitive to fava beans and was very careful to avoid exposure to the food," Dr. Gruda-Zusman explains. "But they also didn't know that the ta'amiya they ate in Egypt was made from fava beans. That is exactly what is surprising. They thought they were avoiding fava beans, but in practice, they ate a dish that contains them without knowing it."
The second child's condition was more severe, requiring a blood transfusion during his hospitalization. His two-year-old brother, who also tasted a small amount of the ta'amiya, arrived with lower-than-normal hemoglobin levels, though he did not require hospitalization due to the small quantity consumed.
G6PD deficiency is a hereditary condition where red blood cells are vulnerable to oxidative damage. Exposure to fava beans can cause rapid breakdown of these cells, leading to acute anemia, jaundice, and dark urine. In severe cases, hospitalization and medical intervention are necessary.
"It is very surprising to treat two such cases in such a short period of time," says Dr. Gruda-Zusman. "It is important to verify the ingredients of our food, especially when a sensitivity puts us at risk. This is true for trips to Egypt and equally important when dining in Israel."
