Pits

The pit, or stone, is the hard seed found at the center of stone fruits like cherries, peaches, plums, and apricots. It contains the actual seed from which a new plant can grow. Pits are typically removed from the fruit before it is consumed or processed.

While the flesh of stone fruits is widely consumed, the pits themselves are not typically used as a direct food ingredient due to their hardness and potential toxicity. However, some cultures may use roasted apricot kernels (seeds from the pit) in certain dishes or for flavoring, though this is uncommon in the US. Some pits might be present incidentally in processed fruit products if not fully removed.

Stone fruit pits contain amygdalin, which can break down into cyanide in the body. Cyanide is toxic. The FDA does not specifically regulate fruit pits as food ingredients, as they are generally not intended for consumption. Organizations like EFSA have evaluated cyanide compounds, but not fruit pits directly as food additives. Due to the risk of cyanide poisoning, consuming significant amounts of fruit pits is not advised.