DID YOU KNOW...

THE  CASHEW SHELL IS POISONOUS

Cashews are never available to consumers in their shells due to the toxic nature of the cashew shell. Cashews are a member of the same family as poison ivy, Anacardiaceae. Like poison ivy and other members of the family, part of the cashew plant contains an oily chemical called urushiol, which can be fatal if ingested. The irritants are found in the shell oil but not in the nuts themselves. To ensure safety, cashew seeds must undergo a high-temperature roasting process to eliminate the harmful urushiol oil before being made available for consumption.