Star anise is the licorice flavored star-shaped fruit of a tree grown in China. It is used as an herb (similar to anise), but it is also the source of shikimic acid from Tamiflu is made.
Only star anise grown in some Chinese provinces is suitable for making Tamiflu, so if you are planning to start using star anise to try to prevent Avian Flu read the label. (Tamiflu cannot prevent the flu but reduces the severity.)
FDA Warning: Do Not Drink This Tea
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning people not to drink tea that contains star anise, a flavoring ingredient sometimes used by parents to quiet colicky babies. Reuters and ScoutNews report that star anise has been linked to illnesses in the United States and Europe, although all who have been stricken have recovered without complications. Symptoms include neurological problems, such as seizures, jitteriness, and rapid eye movement, as well as vomiting.
The FDA issued the warning after an infant was admitted to Miami Children's Hospital with seizures after ingesting tea with star anise. The FDA also cited 40 similar incidents, including 15 that involved infants, from Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, as well as the Netherlands, France, and Spain. There is no scientific evidence that star anise helps babies with colic and such claims are not made on labels. Still, it's popularly believed to bring relief.
It's possible that the health problem stems from the type of star anise that is used. Chinese star anise is generally recognized as safe when used as a spice or flavoring, notes Reuters. However, Japanese star anise is believed to be toxic and should only be used as a decoration. When dried
or processed, Japanese star anise cannot be distinguished from Chinese star anise just by looking at it. The FDA will now evaluate chemical analysis methods and will monitor imports entering the United States, reports Reuters. But do note this: So far, the FDA has not been able to determine whether the star anise linked to the illnesses was only the Japanese version or a mixture of the Japanese and Chinese types.
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