Caution! Focus on mushrooms: Molds!

Caution! Focus on mushrooms: Molds!

Dänemark, Land - A tragic incident in Denmark has made the public aware of the dangers of mold in food. A 69-year-old man lost his life in 2021 after using contaminated coconut water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Mold attack the reason for the fatal consequences. The deceased man had kept the coconut for over a month, which played an important role in the formation of poisonous mycotoxins.

The symptoms that occurred in the man, including nausea and sweating, occurred just three hours after consumption. Clinical brain death was found 26 hours later. The mycotoxin 3-nitropropionic acid, which is formed by the mold type Arthrinium Saccharicola, was responsible for these serious health effects. The incident underlines the risk of mold, since according to the Bundesinstitut for Risk Assessment (BfR) around 70 % of the tested coconut nuts had defects.

Health risks from mycotoxins

molds are widespread in nature and can cause numerous health risks. The mycotoxins occurring in connection with coconut water not only lead to acute symptoms such as nausea and diarrhea, but can also cause long -term damage to the liver and kidneys. In this context, an increased risk of cancer is also discussed. It is important to buy fresh food and store them clean and dry to minimize risks.

nuts, traditionally a popular nibbling, are also not immune to mold loads. According to a report by Öko-Test in particular are the mold as Aspers and Ochraceus in nuts, where they Can produce aflatoxins and ochratoxins. These poisons are heat -resistant, which means that they are not destroyed by the usual cooking or roasting.

preventive measures and storage tips

In order to prevent health risks from mold, consumers should consider the following tips:

• purchase of fresh food without visible defects.
• Food cool and dry, especially nuts.
• nuts with shell should be durable for up to one year, caution is required for discoloration or unpleasant smell.
• A typical sweet or musty taste could indicate mold and should be taken seriously.