Strong carcinogenicity! Don't eat this kind of fruit

Expert of this article: Wang Xiaohuan, Doctor of Medicine, Fudan University

How do people usually deal with rotten fruit? Do you throw it all away, or cut off the rotten part and continue to eat it? Some people may think that as long as they don't eat the rotten part, it's fine, but they don't know that doing so may have serious consequences.

Recently, a couple who ran a fruit shop were reluctant to throw away the rotten fruit, so they cut off the bad parts and continued to eat it. As a result, both of them were diagnosed with liver cancer.

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Will moldy fruit cause cancer? Once rotten, can we not eat it? What else should we pay attention to when eating fruit? Read on.

Are moldy fruits poisonous?

Some microorganisms have long coveted the sweet and tempting fruits, the most common of which are Penicillium and Aspergillus. They will take advantage of the damage to the fruits and multiply inside the fruits, causing the fruits to mold and rot. The most harmful to human health are the toxins produced by these microorganisms, which are the toxic metabolites produced during the growth of mold.

Patulin

Patulin is produced by Penicillium expansum and is the most common toxin in moldy fruits. It is mainly found in moldy fruits and their products, especially apples, pears, hawthorns, tomatoes, apple juice, etc.

Although patulin is only one letter different from the famous penicillin, the effects of the two are worlds apart. Penicillin is an antibiotic produced by Penicillium spp. that can inhibit bacterial growth, but patulin is a harmful toxin that can not only cause gastrointestinal disorders, but is also carcinogenic and teratogenic.

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Ochratoxin

Ochratoxins include seven compounds with similar structures, of which the most common and toxic is ochratoxin A. Ochratoxin A can be found in moldy grapes and grape products, lemon fruits, etc. Ochratoxin A has strong kidney and liver toxicity, and has also been found to be embryotoxic and teratogenic in animal studies.

3-Nitropropionic acid

3-Nitropropionic acid is a neurotoxin produced by Arthrosporum, which is mainly found in spoiled sugarcane. Poisoning can cause severe damage to the central nervous system and can even lead to death. Currently, there is no specific treatment for poisoning caused by this toxin.

Aflatoxin

Aflatoxin is the strongest carcinogenic toxin found so far, mainly found in spoiled peanuts, corn and dairy products, and also found in moldy raisins and other dried fruit foods. Aflatoxin mainly induces liver cancer and subcutaneous sarcoma, and its carcinogenicity is 75 times greater than that of toxic compounds (nitrosodimethylamine) in inducing liver cancer.

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Does eating moldy fruits frequently really cause cancer?

Long-term consumption of foods with high aflatoxin content may indeed cause cancer. Aflatoxin is a Class 1 carcinogenic toxin with clear evidence of carcinogenicity, and ingestion of 1 mg can cause cancer.

Patulin and ochratoxin A are classified as Class 3 and Class 2B carcinogens, respectively. Studies have shown that these toxins can affect human cell metabolism and pose a risk of inducing cancer.

Although 3-nitropropionic acid is not listed as a carcinogen, its severe neurotoxicity also causes harm to the human body. Therefore, eating moldy fruits frequently will pose a threat to your health.

Can I still eat it if I cut off the bad parts?

Under the influence of the traditional virtue of thrift, many people will cut off the rotten or bad parts of the fruit and only eat the parts that look intact. But whether this is feasible depends on the situation.

Bump damage: Fruits may be bruised or indented during transportation or sales. This damage generally only affects the appearance of the fruit and will not have much impact on your health if eaten in the short term.

Freezing damage: In a low temperature environment, some fruits will become soft, but no microorganisms will multiply. If you ignore the taste of the fruit, it will not have much impact on eating it.

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Moldy and rotten: The toxins produced by microorganisms will spread inside the fruit along with the juice, and we cannot judge the spread range of the toxins with the naked eye. Therefore, even if you cut off the rotten part of the fruit, the remaining part cannot be guaranteed to be free of toxins. It is recommended to throw away the moldy fruit directly.

What else should we pay attention to when eating fruits?

First, when buying fruits, try to choose fresh fruits with intact appearance. Try to avoid buying cut fruits. On the one hand, there is no guarantee that the cuts are not contaminated by microorganisms, and on the other hand, it is impossible to confirm whether the merchant uses moldy fruit cuts to pass off as good ones.

Secondly, when eating fruits, be sure to wash them thoroughly to remove bacteria, mold, parasites and other microorganisms that may contaminate the surface of the fruit, as well as residual pesticides. After rinsing with clean water, peeled or peeled fruits can be eaten without the skin, and those that cannot be peeled can be soaked in fruit and vegetable cleaners or salt water, washed and eaten.

Finally, it is best to store fruits in a dry paper bag or plastic bag for cold storage. At the same time, poke some small holes in the bag for ventilation to prevent moisture evaporation and the growth of bacteria and mold on the bag. In addition, it should be noted that some tropical fruits (such as bananas, mangoes, etc.) are not suitable for low-temperature storage. They can be placed at room temperature and eaten as soon as possible.

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