Nuts are rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, and are highly favored by consumers. However, in humid environments, they can easily absorb moisture from the air and be contaminated by mold. Recently, the Guizhou Provincial Market Supervision Bureau issued a risk warning that if you find filamentous or hairy substances on the surface of nuts, or obvious mold spots before consumption, please do not consume them. When chewing, if you notice a bitter, moldy, or spicy taste, spit it out as soon as possible and rinse your mouth promptly. Nuts refer to the grains of woody plants with a hard outer shell, including walnuts, chestnuts, apricot kernels, almond kernels, walnuts, pistachios, Chinese fir, macadamia nuts, pine seeds, etc. Mold is a common term for filamentous fungi, also known as "moldy fungi". They often form densely branched mycelia, especially in damp and warm places, growing visible fuzzy, flocculent or spider web like bacterial substances. The family of fungi is vast and diverse, with over 45000 species already discovered. Most molds are unfriendly to humans and can cause food spoilage, spoilage, or toxin production, posing a threat to human health. The Market Supervision Bureau of Guizhou Province reminds that even after removing the moldy parts of food, it cannot be consumed because the mold cells cannot be seen with the naked eye. The mold spots that we usually see are actually fungal colonies produced by the massive reproduction of mold, and the non moldy parts of moldy food. There are often molds and mycotoxins that are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, once food becomes moldy, it should be disposed of in a timely manner. Do not have a lucky mentality and be careful not to cause food poisoning. Nuts are especially so. What are the risks of fungal contamination on nuts? The Market Supervision Bureau of Guizhou Province pointed out that according to the "National Food Safety Standard for Nuts and Seed Foods" (GB19300-2014), the mold in cooked nuts and seed foods processed by roasting and frying technology cannot exceed 25CFU/g. If the detection of nut mold exceeds the standard limit, it may mean that its edible value has decreased or even cannot be consumed. Whether nuts contaminated with mold will pose a threat to human health depends on whether the mold metabolizes and produces known and toxic fungal toxins. The metabolism of Aspergillus flavus produces aflatoxins, which are one of the strong carcinogens and can cause acute poisoning when ingested in large quantities. The Guizhou Provincial Market Supervision Bureau reminds that careful selection is necessary to prevent the harm of nut mold contamination. Choose legitimate venues, purchase products produced by legitimate enterprises, and avoid buying expired food. Try to purchase nuts in sealed packaging and buy them as needed. When purchasing bulk nuts, it is important to pay attention to the shape of the nuts and the shape of the fruit. Choose nuts that are plump, evenly distributed, free from mold and insect infestations. Additionally, it is important to store the nuts properly and avoid consuming moldy nuts. It's best to eat and buy now, and consume nuts as soon as possible after opening the bag. If you can't finish eating it, it should be sealed and stored in a cool, dry place. (New Society)