Nutmeg contains myristicin which is toxic and hallucinatory in large quantities. Excessive intake can lead to nausea, hallucinations, palpitations, cramps and even death.

"We are seeing a marked increase in the trend of conversations that young teens have eaten nutmeg for intoxication, and therefore we must issue a warning," says Christin Edmark, chief medical officer at the Poison Information Center.

Seeing things that don't exist

Myristicin can cause a lowered level of consciousness, and it becomes apparent that the person who is poisoned becomes lethargic, finds it difficult to open his eyes and does not respond to accusations. In the final phase, the person risks entering a coma, and internationally there are also deaths.

- It also causes hallucinations and the children see things that do not exist. Now as it gets warmer we are worried that more children are going out in the nice weather and socializing. We always see an increase in poisoning then, she says.

The viral trend began on the popular youth app Tiktok, but is now available on all social media under the hashtag "nutmeg challenge".

Trend with cinnamon

In Tiktok, children and young people can share their own videos, and there is now also a popular trend to film themselves when eating cinnamon. It is unpleasant but not at all as dangerous as eating nutmeg, and the risk is now that children are replacing cinnamon with another spice that seems to be just as harmless.

"With this strong increase, I think it's a matter of time before we get into more serious cases," says Christin Edmark,

Up to eight hours

In the conversations that come into the Poison Information Center, it appears that the young people buy a jar of ground nutmeg that they share. A couple of teaspoons is toxic to adults, but children are much more sensitive.

- What is dangerous is that it can take up to eight hours for myristicin to take effect. Then maybe you are impatient and take even more and then you go home and be alone when the effect comes, says Christin Edmark.