MOULD ON YOUR MEZZE BOARDS
Many of us will be preparing mezze boards this Christmas, and it's essential to thoroughly understand the ingredients in your pickle and preserve jars.
Citric acid naturally occurs in fruits and vegetables; however, it is important to note that this is not the same as the citric acid commonly found in jars of pickled and preserved foods.
The citric acid (330) found within foods is the manufactured citric acid (MCA).
A question that needs to be answered is how MCA is made and why they have taken something so natural and turned it into a manufactured product.
According to a toxicology report by Sweis & Cressey (2018), “99% of the world's production of MCA has been carried out using the fungus aspergillus niger since 1919.”
Aspergillus niger is a type of mould used to prevent food spoilage.
According to the Mayo Clinic (2021), it can cause allergic reactions in humans and lead to the following issues:
- Skin lesions
- A cough that brings up blood
- Wheezing
- Headaches
- Eye symptoms
- Joint pain
People with weakened immune systems should be highly vigilant of “330”.
Sweis & Cressey’s (2018) report examined four cases of individuals who experienced the above symptoms, all of which began within a two- to twelve-hour time frame after consuming foods with MCA. Individual symptoms would gradually resolve over an eight to seventy-two-hour period. It is important to note that none of the four cases developed the above symptoms when consuming NATURAL forms of citric acid found in lemons or limes.
Sweis & Cressey’s (2018) report also identified the main toxins within Aspergillus niger, which are “ochratoxin A (OTA) and malformin C.
OTA is a known carcinogen. Individuals are at risk of exposure to OTA if they ingest food contaminated with it, such as wine, beer, coffee, dried vine fruit, pork, poultry, dairy, spices, and cacao.
Toxicity from OTA is considered severe enough that it is among the 20 mycotoxins monitored in food…”
So, how do you protect yourself? Check your ingredients and avoid citric acid whenever possible.
“✌️, ❤️ & healthy foods 🍇🍓🫐
In The Spirit of Learning, ”
