The Canadian health authority wants manufacturers to assure consumers that their products contain the Chinese - and no other - variety of star anise. If this is not verifiable it recommends they refrain from drinking blended herbal teas containing star anise, brewing tea from bulk star, and using therapeutic and natural health products containing the herb.
Reports in the US and Europe of adverse reactions after the consumption of star anise tea - sometimes it was being used as a treatment for infant colic - prompted this action.
The symptoms - always temporary - ranged from mild nausea to convulsions and seizures. To date here have been no reports of adverse reactions in Canada, nor evidence that any foods or health products sold in the country contain toxic varieties of star anise.
Unlike other types of star anise, the Chinese variety has a long history of safe use in foods and is found in spice mixtures and cooking pastes, herbal tea blends, and therapeutic and natural health products.
Japanese star anise, for example, is used for decorative and aromatic purposes, but is not considered safe for human consumption and can be toxic if enough is ingested.
In November 2003 the US Food and Drink Administration (FDA)advised consumers to avoid drinking herbal teas containing star anise, following reports that at least 40 people, including 15 infants, fell ill after supping teas brewed with the fruit.