Be careful, mold: This is how you recognize bad nuts

Health risk due to mold infestation of nuts

Nuts – even when dried – are not immune to the pitfalls of certain environmental influences. Certain molds even tend to attack different types of nuts. They are usually not even visible to the eye.

The Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety warns against bitter-tasting nuts, especially in winter – when many people eat more and often bake with nuts.

Rancid, musty, bitter? Spit it out straight away

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus ochraceus are the names of the types of mold that typically affect nuts. Their poisons, so-called mycotoxins, make the nut not only inedible but also toxic.

Anyone who consumes large quantities of infected nuts is putting themselves at risk to their health.

Diarrhea and vomiting are only the less serious consequences. Mycotoxins can also lead to impairments of the immune system and damage to the kidneys and liver or even promote cancer.

The problem with mycotoxins: you can neither see them with the naked eye nor do they give off a smell. The only way to determine whether a nut is contaminated is by taste.

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Be careful with pistachios, peanuts and ground almonds

Particular caution is required with pistachios and peanuts. According to one Inventory from 2019 These varieties were affected to a comparatively large extent (44% and 33%).

But caution is also advised when it comes to ground almonds, which are often used for baking. While almonds as a whole rarely fall victim to mold, the “larger surface area of ​​the ground product appears to offer more entry opportunities for the mold.”

How to protect yourself from mold infestation on nuts

• Always store nuts in a dry and cool place
  Mold fungi like it warm and slightly moist – these conditions allow them to multiply perfectly. Nuts should therefore always be stored in a cool and dry place.
• Focus on quality when purchasing
  While there is a particular focus on product control for organic nuts, insecticides are used for non-organic nuts to protect the harvest from mold infestation. In both cases, contamination can still occur.
  It is therefore worth paying attention to quality when purchasing. Untreated nuts are not only healthier, their quality is also easier to assess. Roasting or spices, on the other hand, can distort the taste – which, as I said, is an important warning sign.
• Pay attention to noticeable discoloration and unpleasant odors
  In addition, you should not close your senses to discoloration and smells.
• Freeze nuts
  To make nuts last longer and protect them from fungal attack, you can also freeze them. Here too, untreated nuts are best. Frozen nuts will last up to a year in an airtight package.
  Due to their high fat content, they are also not prone to crystal formation. Ground nuts can be used immediately when frozen, while whole nuts should be left to thaw in the air to prevent condensation from forming. Because moisture is again a risk.

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