CHAMGAP
APPROVEDReviewed and approved by the Chamgap Editorial Team (2026-08-04). The draft was written by AI, the existence of all 5 cited sources was verified (1 access-limited, verified via index/summary and marked), and the verdict passed blind grading and adversarial audit. Methodology v0.6.
Verdict No. 2160 · Search date 2026-08-04 · Methodology v0.6

Persimmon plus crab,
does it really help with Combination-specific poisoning, abdominal pain, or diarrhea?

30-Second Summary
?
Evidence Grade ? · Safety caution
An exploratory animal study observed no poisoning, but no human comparison of persimmon with crab was confirmed
Repeated excessive persimmon intake can cause bezoars, while crab carries shellfish-allergy and spoilage or toxin risks. Breathing difficulty, persistent vomiting, severe pain, or diarrhea warrants medical care rather than reliance on a food-combination explanation.
What the
research shows
The verdict is pending. Evidence on the combination is not entirely absent: a 1936 exploratory animal experiment included persimmon and crab and observed no conspicuous poisoning. Whether this pair was among the seven combinations fed to people could not be confirmed, and no human comparative evidence was identified, so no score was assigned.
What the
ads claim
An exploratory animal experiment found no conspicuous poisoning from the tested combinations, but human comparative evidence for persimmon plus crab was not identified. Clinical persimmon bezoars are real, yet they arise from repeated excessive persimmon intake and must not be presented as crab-combination toxicity.
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Useful facts when choosing a product

  • Cheng's exploratory experiment included persimmon and crab among 14 household-cooked pairs fed on two consecutive days to albino rats, monkeys, and dogs; no conspicuous poisoning was observed. Whether this pair was among seven combinations fed to people could not be confirmed.
  • Persimmon bezoar is a real clinical condition associated with repeated excessive intake of unripe or astringent fruit.
  • A 2025 Habuka case found a 5 by 5 cm obstructing bezoar containing more than 98% tannin in a 93-year-old man eating two persimmons daily. This was not a crab-combination exposure.
  • Soluble tannin in deastringed persimmon was measured at 0.031 to 0.262 g per 100 g fresh fruit, varying by cultivar and treatment.
Gap Measurement · Verdict 2160 · ?
What advertising claims
What independent, higher-quality research supports
△ GAP
01

What the research actually shows

Cheng selected 14 of 184 traditional combinations, including persimmon and crab, prepared them as ordinary household dishes, and fed them to albino rats, monkeys, and dogs on two consecutive days. Seven common pairs were also eaten by the investigator and one colleague. Facial expression, behavior, temperature, and excreta were observed for 24 hours, with no conspicuous poisoning. Whether persimmon and crab was among the seven human-fed pairs could not be confirmed. The work was exploratory, without randomization, blinding, controls, standardized toxicology testing, or an adequate sample. The original 1936 scan could not be opened; the bibliography and experiment details were verified through a 2017 academic biography.

02

Why this is classified as ?

Exploratory animal evidence found no conspicuous poisoning, but no human comparison specific to persimmon plus crab was confirmed, so the verdict remains pending without a score.

Counterpoint. Shellfish-allergy symptoms, severe vomiting or diarrhea, breathing difficulty, or major abdominal pain require prompt care regardless of a food-combination story.

Rejudgment record. Cross-check applied — A 1936 exploratory animal experiment included persimmon and crab, but no combination-specific human comparison was confirmed

Scoring profile behind this grade
EndpointPPatient-reported treatment goal - the symptom is the goal

The scoring table and the verdict agree (?).

Sub-claim grades by effect

This ingredient is marketed for several effects. A single overall grade blends strong and weak claims together, so each effect is graded separately here. The overall grade reflects the strongest disconfirming or core claim.

Effect (sub-claim)GradeBasis
Persimmon plus crab increases poisoning, abdominal pain, or diarrhea?Exploratory animal evidence exists, but no human comparison was confirmed.
Repeated excessive persimmon intake can cause bezoarsBClinical cases include component analysis, but this is not the graded combination claim.

Cross-check — Codex and Claude

This verdict was drafted by Codex through literature review and source-existence checks, cross-checked through blind grading and adversarial audit, and settled by reapplying the methodology boundary rules. Cases with split grades were resolved through rejudgment.
03

Evidence Table

StudyDesignSampleFundingEndpointResultWeight
Cheng 1936Uncontrolled exploratory animal study with limited self-experimentation2Not confirmedFacial expression, behavior, temperature, excreta, and conspicuous poisoning over 24 hoursNo conspicuous poisoning in animal tests of 14 pairs including persimmon and crab; human exposure to this pair not confirmedExploratory combination evidence
Study 2Persimmon composition and deastringency experimentOriginal funding not confirmedSoluble tannin concentration0.031 to 0.262 g per 100 g fresh fruit depending on treatment and cultivarDirect persimmon-tannin composition evidence
Study 3Case report and component analysis of obstructing persimmon bezoar1Original funding not confirmedIntestinal obstruction and removed-bezoar composition5 by 5 cm bezoar containing more than 98% tannin; two persimmons dailyEvidence distinguishing persimmon-only harm
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Receipt — 5 References

Of 5 cited sources, 1 had limited original-page access (blocked or summary-only) and were verified via index/summary, marked partial; the rest were verified at the original page. As of 2026-08-04.

Besada C, Sanchez G, Salvador A, Granell A. Changes in tannins, ascorbic acid and sugar content in astringent persimmons during on-tree growth and ripening and in response to different postharvest treatments. J Food Compos Anal. 2010;23(4):281-286. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2009.08.016.
checked
Cheng LT. Are the so-called poisonous food combinations really poisonous? Contributions from the Biological Laboratory of the Science Society of China, Zoological Series. 1936;11(9):307-316.
partial
Habuka M, Yamagiwa M, Yonezawa M, Ogawa A, Yamamoto S. Diospyrobezoar (Persimmon Bezoar)-Induced Intestinal Obstruction in an Older Patient: A Case Report. Cureus. 2025;17(7):e87850. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.87850. PMID: 40655072.
checked
Nishiguchi Y, et al. J Jpn Surg Assoc. 2014;75(11):3034-3038. DOI: 10.3919/jjsa.75.3034.
checked
Iwamuro M, et al. Review of the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal bezoars. World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2015;7(4):336-345. PMID: 25901212. DOI: 10.4253/wjge.v7.i4.336.
checked
Draft and rewrite: Codex (AI) · Verification: Codex blind grading and adversarial audit · Final adjudication: Claude
Reviewed and approved: Chamgap Editorial Team · Approval date: 2026-08-04 · Corrections: none

Cite this verdict

Persimmon plus crab x poisoning, abdominal pain, or diarrhea Evidence Grade ? card
[Chamgap] Persimmon plus crab x poisoning, abdominal pain, or diarrhea — Evidence Grade ?. 5 cited sources checked. Source: https://chamgap.com/en/verdicts/gut/persimmon-crab-poisoning-diarrhea/ · CC BY 4.0

CC BY 4.0 — free to use with attribution; do not distort grades, numbers, or verdict meaning.

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What this document does and does not do

Chamgap is an information source. It reports what research has and has not confirmed; it does not tell readers what to take or buy. That decision belongs to readers and, when needed, medical or legal professionals. This verdict reflects literature available up to the search date and may change as new research appears. Nothing here is medical advice.