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Though there's no immediate need to turn your PB&J's into jelly-only sandwiches, there is a chance that peanut butter may contain the carcinogen aflatoxin. The soft and porous shell that encases peanuts can allow fungus with aflatoxin to penetrate into the nut, explains Organic Authority.
Although aflatoxin has yet to be proven to cause cancer in the United States, it has been documented as causing liver cancer in developing countries where corn, peanuts and grains are grown without strict soil quality regulation. Currently, all commercially-produced peanut butters must be tested for aflatoxin, but grind-your-own peanut butter may actually be at a higher risk because the peanuts sit around the longest without refrigeration, allowing more mold to develop, according to Organic Authority. Planet Green also adds that natural peanut butters may be more susceptible since "they are less processed and have a shorter shelf life, therefore the mold is more likely to thrive."
This alarm bell has been sounded before. In an informative write-up, Celeb doc Andrew Weil explains that the Consumers Union found the exact same results about a decade ago, when it was discovered that supermarket brands like Peter Pan, Jif and Skippy contained the less afloxtin than natural brands. Consumer Reports has researched aflatoxins since 1972, but still says peanuts are worth eating for their health benefits.
There's a simple precaution if you're concerned. Refrigerate your peanut butter -- it'll keep out the mold.
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4-25-2011 @5:55PM Steve Savage said... Actually most of the infection occurs in the field. Peanuts that are in a market like the US have been individually tested for the presence of the Aspergillus flavus mold by fluorescence and if positive they are puffed off the conveyor best with a blast of air. You are in danger if you get peanuts "in the shell" because they have not been tested. The real danger is in the third world where people end up eating lots of contaminated peanuts.
There was also a study that demonstrated that chlorophyl (like you would get eating something green like spinach) binds the aflatoxin in your gut to it does not get absorbed in your intestine. So to be super safe just have a salad with that PBJ.
Steve Savage, Ph.D. in plant pathology
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4-25-2011 @11:33PM jules said... The main "carcinogen" is the white bread. It will kill you LONG before the PNB has a chance to.
4-25-2011 @8:03PM cybele said... You win the internet today for the most inappropriate headline. Good job, new bosses. Nice that you keep the whole post unattributed, too.
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4-25-2011 @8:24PM Stephanie said... 1) This is not news. I've been hearing about this since the 1970s.
2) Is peanut better better than peanut butter?
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4-25-2011 @8:40PM c said... Nice spelling on the link to this page.. Peanut "better"?????? Who the heck is writing this stuff 3rd graders???
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4-25-2011 @8:46PM Tom said... Is this a warning about something that MIGHT cause a condition in peanuts that MAYBE could lead to the presence of fungus that MIGHT cause the peanuts to be contaminated with a pathogen that MIGHT be cancer-causing; we really don't know, but it MIGHT be? I like peanuts, but claim to be no expert. I thought that peanuts were inspected, then roasted, and then, in the case of peanut butter, processed in a boiler. I guess we're talking about a pretty hardy fungus.
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4-25-2011 @8:43PM Lynn said... Peanut BETTER? Doesn't AOL edit ANYTHING?
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4-25-2011 @9:10PM Coy said... I know Peanut butter is most likely bad for your healt as all other food is I remember when eggs, milk, etc. etc. was bad for you to eat and after manny years passed they are good for you now
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4-26-2011 @1:18AM Kristen said... I'll eat my "JIF" peanut butter out of the container with a spoon, thank you very much.
Holy shizznickles, people are getting up-in-arms over PEANUT BUTTER?
I understand that some may have allergies to peanuts, okay. Understood. Avoid it.
I'm not about to give up my PB anytime soon. The water you drink, the veggies you consume, the air you breathe, all contaminated on some level.
While you all worry, I'll sit here and enjoy my (heavily slathered) PB&Strawberry jam on whole wheat.
4-25-2011 @10:10PM HC said... Stop. Just stop. Fear-mongering and sensationalist tabloid gossip information...just stop. There are other ways to present a topic. Fear-basing your content is a tactic that people with half a brain don't appreciate.
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4-25-2011 @10:02PM jibrenton said... If peanuts can be contaminated with aflatoxin, it makes me wonder if other nuts and legumes are susceptible as well. Are nuts that are left in a warm moist place, like in the tropics able to develop this toxin, and can it be killed by roasting?
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4-25-2011 @10:02PM June said... Peanut Better???? And someone is PAID to write this? Real professional
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4-25-2011 @10:03PM My 2 cents said... This just in: Slippery shoes can kill you!! Do not wear them in the shower or you may slip, hit your head, and ultimately die!!!! Be afraid, be very afraid!!! Good lord it is becoming embarrassing at this point!!!
Rule of thumb, avoid "food" that comes in a can or box. Otherwise, moderation is the key...
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4-25-2011 @10:30PM JD said... You know...I hear that breathing oxygen causes cancer....so whatever you do STOP BREATHING now!!
Waiting about 3 minutes..............ok wow it just got much quieter around here without all the GD worry warts.
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4-25-2011 @10:49PM lajr1951 said... do not drink the water or breathe the air.it may give you cancer.live long you may get cancer,everything may give you cancer
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4-25-2011 @10:59PM SkyBlue said... Everything is deadly these days. Good grief, do you really expect to live forever? One way or another, something's going to kill you, so you might as well enjoy your life and forget the tired back-and-forth gibberish about how good or bad food is for you.
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4-25-2011 @10:59PM SkyBlue said... Everything is deadly these days. Good grief, do you really expect to live forever? One way or another, something's going to kill you, so you might as well enjoy your life and forget the tired back-and-forth gibberish about how good or bad food is for you.
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4-25-2011 @11:08PM Lila said... C'mon Slashfood. Chill out. There is no way in heck I'm going through the rest of life without peanut butter. Sorry. Also, peanut butter from the 'fridge would be really gross.
This article is a prime example of why a lot of younger people today don't read the news. It's silly-people are always coming up with new things to be scared about. No human being can avoid every new found carcinogen. Just not possible...the list is too dang long. Unless you're shoveling peanut butter from third world countries down your throat, all day, every day, this one probably isn't so bad for you.
So maybe you should think it through a little. This information could have been presented in a whole other form. You could do a story like "Switches To Your Old PB+J", and give options for replacements and reasons why you think readers would want to switch it up...for instance...the possibility of carcinogenic molds :P
My thing about getting people to listen is this: It isn't telling them everything they did wrong, it's telling them how and why to make it right. So rather than scaring people with the subject of carcinogenic peanut butter-however many readers the headline may attract...-enlighten them with a more upbeat and encouraging article.
Just a thought from a 14 year old...who, not trying to offend you, probably could have written better on this topic. And that, dear, is how you know when you need to check yourself.
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4-25-2011 @11:12PM vicki said... well,as for the salad,the toxin actually causes liver damage BEFORE it ever gets through your intestines. This has been going on forever,and no one i know has ever stopped eating peanut BUTTER. It is true,however that it is safer to eat them without the shell,as u might CHOKE on them. LOL
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4-25-2011 @11:29PM Sam said... Oh shut up please. Live until you die and quit worrying about it.
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