The "Invisible Killer" in Your Fridge: Aflatoxin, Do You Really Know It?The refrigerator, an indispensable appliance in modern households, provides great convenience for storing our food. However, do you know that there is an "invisible killer" called aflatoxin lurking in your seemingly safe refrigerator? It can quietly breed in your refrigerator and enter your body through food, causing irreversible damage to your health
The "Invisible Killer" in Your Fridge: Aflatoxin, Do You Really Know It?
The refrigerator, an indispensable appliance in modern households, provides great convenience for storing our food. However, do you know that there is an "invisible killer" called aflatoxin lurking in your seemingly safe refrigerator? It can quietly breed in your refrigerator and enter your body through food, causing irreversible damage to your health.
In 2013, Beijing Television reported a shocking incident: five out of six members of a family in Beijing were diagnosed with cancer. Investigation revealed that the culprit behind this "family history" of cancer was actually the cutting board in Ms. Zhang's kitchen. Due to long-term use of the same cutting board without timely cleaning and drying, aflatoxin proliferated on it and entered the human body through food, ultimately leading to the entire family suffering from cancer.
Aflatoxin is a highly toxic fungal toxin produced by Aspergillus flavus. It was listed as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as early as 1993. Its toxicity is even 68 times stronger than arsenic. Aflatoxin thrives in humid environments and can parasitize various foods, including wooden and plastic cutting boards, dried fruits, steamed buns, fermented rice noodles, etc.
Although the low temperature environment of the refrigerator is not suitable for the rapid growth and reproduction of aflatoxin, it can still survive and produce toxins in the refrigerator. Some studies have shown that even steamed buns frozen in the refrigerator for ten days may not completely prevent the production of aflatoxin.
The harm of aflatoxin cannot be underestimated. It can not only cause cancer but also lead to various diseases such as liver damage, weakened immunity, kidney disease, and nervous system damage.
So, how to prevent the harm of aflatoxin?
1. Regularly clean and disinfect chopping boards: After using the chopping board, it should be promptly cleaned with detergent and thoroughly dried to avoid food residues providing breeding conditions for aflatoxin.
2. Avoid storing food in the refrigerator for too long: Consume fresh food as much as possible and minimize the storage time of food in the refrigerator.
3. Choose appropriate food storage methods: Different types of food should be stored using appropriate methods, for example, dried fruits should be stored in airtight containers to prevent moisture absorption.
4. Clean the refrigerator regularly: Thoroughly clean the refrigerator at regular intervals to remove dirt and food residue, preventing the breeding of bacteria and mold.
5. Pay attention to food safety: When purchasing food, choose from legitimate channels and avoid buying expired or spoiled food.
In addition, there are some common foods that are more prone to aflatoxin growth, requiring special attention:
- Moldy grains: Moldy corn, peanuts, rice, etc., have extremely high aflatoxin content and should not be consumed.
- Dried fruits: Dried fruits, especially almonds, walnuts, etc., that have been stored for a long time are prone to aflatoxin growth.
- Fried foods: Fried foods are more likely to produce aflatoxins at high temperatures, especially when stored improperly.
- Pickled foods: Pickled foods, such as pickled vegetables, cured meat, etc., are also prone to aflatoxin growth.
Aflatoxin is highly toxic and poses a serious threat to human health. To avoid the harm of aflatoxin, we should pay attention to the following points in our daily lives:
- Stop eating moldy or spoiled food: If you find food has gone moldy, discard it immediately and don't hesitate to consume it.
- Pay attention to the storage time of food: Consume fresh food as much as possible and avoid storing food for extended periods.
- Choose fresh and safe food sources: When purchasing ingredients, pay attention to choosing fresh and safe food and avoid buying food from unknown sources.
- Regular checkups: Regular checkups can help detect potential health issues early and seek treatment, preventing irreversible damage to health caused by aflatoxins.
Aflatoxin is a health hazard we cannot ignore. We hope everyone can recognize the dangers of aflatoxin and take effective preventive measures to protect their health.
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