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When the American Licorice Company announced on Wednesday it was voluntarily recalling its black licorice Red Vines because of high levels of lead, about half the country paused and thought, “Wait, people eat black licorice?” The other half (presumably mostly curmudgeonly grandfathers and uncles) became disappointed to learn it would be harder than ever to find the sweet treat.
Licorice, which comes from the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, flavors what we call black licorice (which is redundant), liqueurs such as Jagermeister, and medicines such as NyQuil, which relies on the pungent flavor to mask the medicinal taste. Even though it commonly appears in products, licorice seems polarizing.
“People either love it or hate it and, as far as I can tell, it’s not a learned like or dislike,” says Marcia Pelchat, an associate member of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, a nonprofit center, which researches taste and smell.
“I don’t know a specific gene that is associated with liking and disliking licorice. [But] it does seem to be something that people are born with.”
While experts haven’t conducted much research on licorice preference, Pelchat — who dislikes the flavor but is married to a lover of licorice — shares a few theories as to why licorice divides us between the lovers and the haters.
When we eat, we use both the sense of taste and smell to detect flavor. Taste includes sweet, bitter, salty and sour. When we bite into a piece of licorice, we taste glycyrrhizin, a natural sweetener in licorice root, which can taste, to some, like saccharin, the artificial sweetener found in Sweet 'n' Low. With licorice, this sickly sweet lingers, causing some to wrinkle their noses in displeasure.
“What this suggests to me is maybe liking and disliking licorice is related to liking and disliking saccharin,” Pelchat says.
Licorice also contains anethole, which is aromatic and plays on our olfactory sense. Anethole also occurs in anise and fennel, both of which licorice haters might find more tolerable. (Anise and fennel flavor absinthe, for anyone who thought it, too, might be a licorice liqueur.)
“[Taste] seems to be built-in; it doesn’t require any learning,” she explains, adding that people can train themselves to like spicy foods, or even cilantro. “However, responses to smells seem to be learned.”
While this means people might dislike licorice because it reminds them of the smell of NyQuil, or another malodorous memory, Pelchat suspects that it’s really the taste, not the smell that turns people off.
“There are lots and lots of genes involved in the perception of [flavor] and of aroma and we probably all have relatively unique sensory worlds. So that’s just something to keep in mind in talking about individual differences in preference.”
Related:
- Red Vines black licorice recalled over high lead levels
- Who hates cilantro? Study aims to find out
- Cilantro haters are mutants
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I actually like it!!
I like is also , strawberry and chocolate too. (the chocolate is hard to find)
Love it too, but can only find it made with HFCS now and I try most assiduously to avoid HFCS anytime possible.
What a ridiculous story. Plenty of people love it.
I don't like it, but it reminds me of the pregnancy threads I would read. Come 9 months, women are desperate to finally have the baby and start sub-coming to any midwife tale to try and start labor, black licorice being one of them. So I think it will always be a big seller no matter if it's loved or hated.
Liver, broccoli, brussels sprouts, coffee, black licorice and anything Kardashian. Just can't stomach any of them.
Love the red vines though.
I love black also , red is ok and I have never tried any of the other flavors (too old I guess) . I've always preferred black but I hate saccharin so that blows a hole in that theory . For me I'm pretty sure part of it is the smell that enhances the flavor as to why I like it , but it is easy to overdue it and eat too much , yuck .
I have always suspected that licorice was put in among the more colorful Chuckles in order to make their colors stand out more brightly by comparison. Their flavors, too.
Ditto, I like it.
Darthfrodo
I LOVE everything you don't like . Funny how different everyones taste buds are.
Black helps me poop
I love the Red Vines and just recently found that they made black vines. They sell them at all the Walgreens around here. Also Target sells them too. Guess I better go buy some before they take them off the shelves!
I Love black licorice and hate the other flavors. Personally I do not think it smells anything like NyQuil...must be a slow news day.
I love Good & Plenty's licorice, or is it not real licorice?
Taste
I love black licorice and had no idea that it had that much lead. I prefer it over all the other kinds. I think its an acquired taste because most of my family and colleagues don't care for it at all. My students generally don't either.
This article only focuses on SWEET black licorice, not the sweet-salty type favored by Scandinavians. Their version is also an acquired taste, but people who don't want sticky-sweet licorice should try the Scandinavian style.
I like black licorice every once in awhile, but I don't care for the licorice flavor in fennel, anise, or the flavor of NyQuil. Why do TV chefs continue to praise fennel when its licorice flavor overpowers other flavors in the meal? Hopefully this trend will end soon.
My favorite way to enjoy black licorice is in the center of Good & Plenty candy (the pink and white crunchy outside with black licorice inside).
Well, we agree on two of the six. Make that one. A properly done bacon-wrapped chicken liver is a good thing. But I'm still with you on the Kardashians.
I love black licorice. I've always loved it. I would pick the black jelly beans out first. And then your tongue gets all black. Since I'm not a big fan of the black colored tongue, I have to make do with drinking Sambuca. And eating fennel. And anise.
Absinthe - I feel a little crazy when I drink that stuff!!!
American Licorice Company, I have a bone to pick with you. I am a "real" licorice lover from back in the 50s -- I am so mad at you, I could kick your little butts. For hell sake, go back to the way you used to make "good" licorice. The crap your make now "Red Vines" is garbage. Be proud, be the American Licorice Company again, or move shop to China. Make licorice the "Old Fashioned" way, no shiny black twists that taste like fake rubber. Stupid idiots, just like Coke when they tried to "taste like" Pepsi. Quit using "Frankensugar" (HFCS), use cane sugar, and go back to making Licorice the way licorice should be made, and then you won't have "start-ups" making designer and aussie and old fashioned licorice -- kicking your Ass....
My gramma loved it, my ma loved it, I love it, my kids love it!!! Just need to eat the good stuff, like Autstralia's Kookabuura black liquorice or Panda's black licorice. (for instance). Look up the ingredients - wheat flour, anise oil, licorice extract, sugar, molasses, etc... By the way, I HATE saccharin yet love my black licorice! Black Jelly Belly's taste very good, too, because they are a bit lower in sugar which really brings out that licorice flavor, but the sugar they use is corn sugar (blech!) plus 'other artificial color, flavor and coating'. Healthwise, I try to remember that what I eat my kids and grandkids eat, so 'be conscientious' is my motto, well... often, anyway.
Peace out!
I've never liked the taste.
Good point, but I don't care for the Scandinavian type either (though hubby loves it). To me, it's the smell and I also don't care for fennel or anise ... can't get it past the nose!
Jensen, I just walked in the door with a bag of "Natural Vines" from American Licorice, and going down the check list it has cane sugar rather than HFCS (I don't avoid that, say, in pancake syrup, but I drink imported Mexican Coca Cola with cane sugar as well, or I don't have a Coke).
Check it out, and there are other brands equally as good, but they've been pricey lately (over four bucks a box here, for example for Panda). Hmmm, I see Switzer's is still being made (my childhood favorite and darn good), but you can't get it here on Planet Utah. Almost can't get Hires Root beer, either... Scumbag marketing operations...
What's with all the mention of licorice in the news lately, anyway? Some journalists were claiming black licorice was linked to water retension and heart problems...
The black licorice...that was rolled up in disc size about a quarter size...that had the hard ball shaped candy piece of candy in the middle, that was made of same candy as valetine hearts!
Shoestring licorice, red or black...lasted longer...good stuff!
Because it's black?....lmao...what kind of stupid story is this. I personally don't like licorice. There was one strawberry flavor years ago that you can hardly find anymore and it was really good. Most of it now just has a taste that reminds me of nyquil without the added plus of knocking me out when I am sick. When will msn quit trying to be a news agency, they suck at it.
"Licorice also contains anethole,..."
I knew it. Likely ground-up underwear too.
Black? Blaaah. The red is the best! Is saying "black licorice" not pc enough? Shouldn't it be African-American licorice? LOL!!!
OH my Stars!!! I like black licorice. Shame on them for putting lead in it. Now how will I create Tires barriers for race car cakes?
I can remember as a kid fighting with my mother over the black jelly beans in our Easter baskets,,ehehehe,,,till they started selling bags of JUST black jelly beans. I love it. Because of the calories I don't eat them much anymore, but they are still a favorite of mine.
I wonder if a similar percentage love or hate Root Beer and Sarsaparilla?
You_gotta: Yes, good and plenty's are real licorice. Licorice is a FLAVOR not a type of candy, which is why the author said "black licorice" is redundant. That is why, Rayvar, that many people don't like black twists and jellybeans, not because they are black, but because they taste nasty. I have always thought Nyquil tasted like licorice, though I still take it when I need to but I have to eat something to take the taste away because I LOATHE licorice. I can eat the strawberry and most any other flavors they make the twists, whips, laces, jellybeans and whatever other shapes they take but I can't stand the licorice flavor. Of all the people in my family, only my mom and one of my brothers like the stuff. In fact, mom found bags of all black jellybeans once when I was in high school. She bought a whole case, took one bag, and gave the rest to me to put away because if my brother found them, he would eat them but she knew they were safe with me because I don't like them. And boltonbill, it IS hated. The people that I know either LOVE it or HATE it. The article does not say ALL people hate it, but I have noticed that no one I know who doesn't like it doesn't say "I just don't care for it" they say "OMG That stuff is fn NASTY". The shelves are filled with licorice because enough people love it to keep them in business.
They also have a product called Crows that are like Jujubees but all black. I find them every once in a while and get them for mom when I do. I still cannot imagine anyone actually LIKING that nasty flavor but I concede people do. Maybe it is genetic.
Actually black licorice has a lot of health benefits, and is actually one way to help a person stop smoking. Many more. I also do not care for black licorice, but did taste some from Trader Joe's that is absolutely delicious. For good licorice one cannot pick it up in a grocery store in the candy aisle. Check out Trader Joe's - it is delicious.
I love black licorice, cane sugar, corn syrup, bacon loaded with nitrates and lots of other really great tasting stuff including fried, fried and more fried. Candy corn, orange slices, circus peanuts, cheap jelly beans, not the high brow jelly bellies. Milk maids, peanut clusters, and lots and lots of other junk. Life is good. Injure a food nazi for Christ or any other higher power you may or may not have. Individual mileage may vary.
Black Licorice is the best licorice.
Thomas Paine-784713
Opal Nera is a black sambuca that you would love though it makes the tongue a bit blackish/green and if you drink enough you'll see a green in the toilet the next day... lol
I find this story to be extrememly bigoted and don't feel that we should be discriminating against licorice because of it's color!!!!
Black licorice is disgusting.
Kitty? How can you think that it doesn't smell like Nyquil? Whats wrong with you.
blacks the best! ask around.
I'd rather have black licorice than chocolate! And if the salty Scandinavian stuff is acquired, I acquired the taste with my first bite. I have never met a black licorice I didn't immediately love! I also like anise and fennel. The red/black vines are better than no licorice, but not as good as the real stuff.
justsaying: Actually, the reason I can take nyquil is because it has the licorice taste and smell. You can keep the berry nyquil, it's awful.
Black licorice for me all the way. I hate the red one.
But I agree that the twisted black tastes like rubber. I want the real licorice, whatever the price.
I prefer the black licorice made by the American Licorice Company, as well as the red vines made by the same company. I don't like anything made by their competitor, twizzlers, though other folks do.
For lots of us, though, black licorice can relieve constipation; too much and you may need to take some Kaopectate . . .
Thanks for the tip Vlad in TN. But I like Romana. It's clear, 47% alc., and when mixed 50/50 with Bailey's tastes just like a Good 'n' Plenty. But don't drive anywhere if you have more than one. Actually, don't drive at all if you even have one. It'll set you on your backside quite nicely. Or just do the 3 coffee beans, and sip it slowly.
Nah, I can't go for that. I love licorice, but chocolate is my Kryptonite. The darker the better. There's this one brand, I can't think of the name, it's 85% cacao. A serving is around 2 ounces, but as much of a choc-aholic I am, I can't even eat one. It's that potent. But it's that good.
Jagermeister is medicinal?!?
Well, the poll shows black licorice lovers 2 to 1 over haters. Good stuff! Really have the taste for some now. The red vines are OK, but they simply aren't the same thing and really can't be called licorice.
My grandmother loved it, my father loves it, I love it, and my son likes it, too!
The silliest part about this story is inferring that only old people like it. I never much cared for it. But my ex grew up an army brat and the whole family was hooked on german licorice. Any good candy store sells it and it is so much better than most American brands.
This is nothing more than candy racism. Once you have black, you never go back.
Dislike Saccharin very very much and will not use artificial sweetners with anything like that in it. But I do love licorice. Bad for my blood pressure but I love that smooth finish in my mouth. Yep, I would be a licorice tester if I could be!
I never liked it as a kid, but as an adult I do. I've heard that it's common for your tastes to change or refine as you age. I also love Ouzo (Greek liquor that tastes like absinthe or sambuca, but not as alcoholic as the former, or as thick/syrupy as the latter.)
Love the Black but hate Fennell and Saccharin. There goes that theory.
Hate black licorice! Ughh. The first time I had it as a child, was in one of those gross "good and plenty" candies. I spit it back out! But my mom loves it! Love twizzlers though, (the red licorice). Guess we're all different. Duh. ;-)
there is no other licorice other than black, red green blue brown whatever the other flavors are , they are NOT licorice, they r only a candy confection, just as white chocolate is NOT chocolate. twizzlers are not licorice, licorice is a specific flavor as mentioned in the article come from a plant
Oh, yeah, I forgot about tha TruVia crap. As a diabetic, I have tried all the different sweeteners trying to find one I like best. So far, it's Splenda. Never liked saccharin and I can handle aspartame but anything with "via" in the name, forget it. I can't believe that people don't think it tastes like licorice. It's disgusting. And I don't know who their taste testers are but it says on the box that it doesn't have that licorice aftertaste but it DOES. Maybe their tasters are burned out after the years spent tasting stuff.
I may have to look up some of the imported stuff that people are raving about. I may still not like it myself, but it would make a great gift for mom if I dont!
I hate black licorice. They use to put that stuff in a cough syrup my parents forced me to take. Something like Creomulsion for Children (sp). They should have called it Projectile for Children because that is what I did....PROJECTILE all over the wall.
Made my parents mad as h e double hockey sticks.
I still hate black licorice to this day...the taste and smell. Same thing with Pennyroyale.
meh, I don't like it or love it... so much for it being a gene then :P
I cannot stand the taste of Licorice, Annis, or Fennel, and it has nothing to do with the smell, which I actually find to be refreshing.
I's reckon the fetish can goes both ways! I can't lay off the stuff. Jellybeans. Good and Plenty. Black Licorice ice cream is soooo good. They ought to make a black licorice syrup for those who really have a fetish.
loves me some Licorice Altoids...mmm
Anyone remember Baskin Robbins Licorice Voo Doo ice cream? Yum! Yes, it's black ice cream flavored with black licorice. My sister and I loved it and ate it as kids. Don't know if they still sell it though.
Love the stuff, but usually save it for special occasions now a days. Got addicted to it when I was little, and the only time I usually got any was when going to the movies, which was a rare event. Nibs was the product of choice that was served at the theaters, and was great. These days I wait for some of the imported stuff to go on sale before treating myself.
It was a sad day when the real Nibs disappeared off of grocery store shelves-I still remember the golden yellow, dark red and white package with the palm tree silhouette. The old Nibs are the real Nibs and any current licorice just doesn't hold a candle to it. The Australian stuff they sell now is strongly disliked by all of my family. They should just bring back S & H and the original authentic Nibs recipe. Nice soft fresh texture!
"Nibs" you just dated yourself! A wonderful treat!!
Oh bliss! Nibs black licorice. Soft, chewy great taste!!! Black jelly beans are for wimps.
Katharine
Black jelly beans are for wimps? Huh? How exactly does that make you a wimp? Dumb!
Ohhhh Nibs, yeah. Those are wonderful.
Tongue in cheek; does not liking black licorice make you racist? hahaha
I luv Nibs, Good n Plenty, and Bassett's Licorice Allsorts but I don't buy those black licorice twists becuse they turn my poop black! That can't be good!
Try "Ouzo 12"..! OOOM-PA..!!!
Yikes! Ouzo is nice! IF you sip... PA-OOOM!
When my brother and I were young, we usually had to split a package of Chuckles. He stuck me with the black ones and whatever other flavor he didn't want that day. I've liked black licorice my whole life (that I can remember). Still love orange slices too; and Necco wafers. My brother gave me the black Necco wafers too. YUM!!!!
Dorothy, I remember the Nibs! When I was a kid waiting for my Mom to get off work on Fridays, she'd give me 15 cents to spend in the hospital's gift shop, and that 15 cents would buy me 3 individual-sized packages of black licorice Nibs. I'm dating myself with this post, but what memories the thought of Nibs brings back!
And how about Black Jack gum? Remember that? They revived it not long ago but I don't think they sell it anymore.
Would much rather have black than red! And those other flavors...puleeze! That is NOT licorice!
Actually only the black IS licorice. Red is either cherry or strawberry flavored. Brown is chocolate. Those are the only ones I've seen. For some reason the shape (whips is what I remember, before the twists) got associated with licorice and anything in that shape got called 'whatever' licorice. Pretty stupid if you ask me. You wouldn't call a cherry tootsie pop a 'red licorice tootsie pop' so while call cherry whips (or twists) red licorice?
Hate black licorice!! Like Anise pizzelles though. Red licorice (fresh Twizzlers) are great, and "back in the day" we used to be able to get green licorice (spearmint, maybe?) which was my favorite.
Rusty, don't you mean "pletzel"? Those flat cookies that look a little like waffles? Yep, I like those, too. And I remember the green licorice too, and I think it WAS spearmint. I never liked that one but it was unusual to see it.
My grandfather introduced me to the black licorice he grew up with when I was a little girl, and I've loved it ever since. I'm the only other one in my family who does, though. I don't buy it often, but when I do I am fortunate enough not to have to share it!
There are lots of other brands of black licorice. I don't buy the red vine product, so I am more interested in why the red vines brand has lead? Is it the source of the product, meaning it could affect other brands (such as an environmental concern) or something wrong in the red Vine production plant, or something else that might affect other licorice?
I like Black licorice, but only in small quantities.
well it's only the ones with a sell by date of February something 2013 that are being recalled i think. so probably something got contaminated somehow.
It's almost impossible to get a black jelly bean anymore. Bags of jelly beans are loaded with insipid flavors, and I've often confused black with purple. I LOVE licorice - the original licorice. It's not licorice if it's red or yellow or green. It's quite amazing that the poll on this highly favors black licorice. These people must be listening to the same things that losers listen to - highly partisan-but-not-majority voters.....
Losers? Yeah, that's it (smh). Putz!!!
Makes you wonder if the red vine plant isn't in China. First contaminated toothpaste and then contaminated dog food. Don't forget about the drywall either.
I love it! Red licorice I think tastes like candy and shouldn't even be called licorice!
There's only one licorice, that's the black. The others are just various flavors of candy. There's no such thing as "red licorice".
Exactly. It is candy. That is why its so good(red licorice). Black licorice is just gross.
Licorice is candy, too. It's licorice flavored candy as opposed to strawberry flavored candy (the red twists), cherry flavored candy, grape flavored candy, etc., etc. There is no such thing as "red" "orange" "blue" or any other color of "licorice". It's a flavor of candy (and other things too), not a style of candy, although I admit I call the red candy "red licorice" but only because it's been called that so long that if you don't, no one nowadays knows what you are talking about.
I chop up the like/dislike of black licorice to changing tastes. There was a time when clove candy was considered delicious too. I can't stand either.
Tastes like toxic waste to me. However, my husband loves the stuff. Go figure.
Interesting that it seems to be about 50/50 love/hate in the poll.
I like the black jelly beans the best.
I only eat the black jelly beans! Love them!
I loved them too before I became diabetic.
Black licorice is my favorite food on the planet - and my dentist can back me up (except don't ever eait it while drinking coffee or orange juice).
But you have to distinguish between the licorice-flavored plastic Twizzlers and the real deal, which costs more but is worth every penny.
Cant STAND red licorice! Black is YUMMY!! :))
Funny I thought I was the only one that hated black licorice my mother loved it and would eat all the black jelly beans which was just fine with me ...even funnier I was just eating a red licorice which I love and stopped mid bite as I scrolled down to this piece....been one of those days
we hate it because it takes like monkey puke-THATS WHY
I wouldn't know gregwaver I've never ate monkey puke but I'll take it from you since you have tried them both.
I could not have said it better myself!
Never tried money puke.
What's money puke, Doubter222? I think he just meant it's lousy tasting.
I don't know about monkey puke, but to me it tastes like 1950's medicine and it leaves a greasy film in my mouth (all types). Now.. Tell me more about this monkey puke.
I like my licorice like I like my women:)
Then you like them black and groovy! Me, too!
Black Licorice Power!
Well, they don't make licorice white 'n' sexy, but that's the best kind of woman!
Black and twisted? (rofl)
Grew up on real black licorice from the 40's. Anything with it. Favorite is black jelly beans but will settle for any thing else that is black licorice. I'd buy these for myself and my grandma. Red is really not like it at all but it is okay in a pinch. Been having a harder and harder time finding black licorice
black licorice - my all time favorite candy & how great to get bags of black jelly beans at Easter time.
love black licorice, mmmm good. but only one brand, i think it begins with a z.
interesting you mention that, my grandmother loves licorice - especially blackjack gum i hate it myself and i always wondered if it was an age thing, perhaps it was eaten more frequently with fewer alternatives than kids now have
Okay, I DID actualy like Blackjack. It wasn't as strong as some of the regular licorice and was a bit sweeter too.
tastes like monkey puke:)
I really would not admit to eating monkey puke if I was Greg.
Me too, I'm Native American. Love the red ones.
i personally think some of these news articles are just stupid and pointless......but i just have to leave a comment here because i absolutely cannot stand blacks.......LMFAO of course im talking about the licorice and not people
monkey puke? how do you know this??? wait dont wanna really know
i can eat one black vine, maybe 2, but that's about it.
Ive enjoyed black licorice all my life. I wasnt allowed many sweets as a child, but that was one of the few I was allowed to have. The little store where I lived used to sell ropes of it that were about three feet long. It would take me a week to get through all that.
Oh please...... the author of this article did not do very good research. Black licorice is mainly liked in families that grew up with it. In Hlland you have at least 20 to 25 different flavors of licorice, some salty, some sweet, some spicy, some with strong menthol or with peppermint, cinnamon or sugar.
It is like with gummy bears and/or jelly beans here in the sates. They come in many different flavors.
I Love black licorice. Even the old fachioned licorice root. That is like the texture of a twig, like they say, it is a root and has an anise flavor to it.
Too much of anything is not really good. True hard licorice holds a lot of potasium, that might have been one of the reason my body craved it while I was pregnant. Too bad for some reason my body also craved salt, which is quite common during pregnancy (Ice cream has loads of salt in it as well. So yes I ended up eating 1/2 pound to 1 pound of dounle salted licorice during my first 6 months of pregnancy.
Of course I was punnished by my Doctor for that, and placed on a very strict salt-less diet the last 3 mo. of my pregnancy. Not wanting to harm the baby I always followed dortors orders and stuck to my salt=less and taste-less diet.
Anyways, everything in moderations. I still to this day, after having lived in the US since the late 70's, go to the Dutch store a few times a year to stock up on my Dutch groceries which always includes a few bags and/or rolls of licorice.
***Tulpje***
Gummi bears come from Germany . I haven't had salty licorice in years. Now I want some.
stupid article but here I go....I declare SALTY BLACK LICORICE! now THAT is the key to my heart - a tiny fraction of it but a key nevertheless!
I think licorice... esp. black... is absolutely disgusting. It's interesting to see an article that actually confirms that people either love it or hate it.
Love black licorice, but since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, it is a treat I can no longer enjoy. :(
I have had many products from Nuts.com. They offer Sugar Free Licorice Bites
I have not had them, but the sugar-free gummi bears were good.
Meghan.....get another line of work.....or proof your article before final copy.....sorry I had to read this dribble!
Sure you can, Steve. You just have to be aware of how much you have because of the diabetes. I have it too and I mostly eat sugar free candies but we have a few people in our office who come around with Hershey kisses or the bite size peanut butter cups and I will take only one. One serving of them is 25 grams of sugar, but if you look at the label, one serving is usually anywhere from 5 to 8 pieces. I take the grams, divide by the number of pieces in the serving and find that one is usually only 3 to 5 grams of sugar. I can have one every once in a while as a treat and not hurt my condition. Check the label and you may find you could have a small piece every now and then, if you are careful.
Better to eat a very small amount of the real thing than any kind of artificial sweetener. That stuff is poison.