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Famous Death Row Last Meals
A 19-year old South Carolina man died as a result of eating a batch of pancakes from an expired mix. It wasn't exactly the pancakes that killed him, though. He seems to have had an allergic reaction to a mold that grew in the mix.
As unfortunate as this story is, it can illustrate a valuable point to everyone about checking expiration dates, especially on things that have a long shelf life. While the ingredients, which in the case of pancake mixes consist primarily of flour, can last for a long time in a cool, dry place, unwanted things can develop over time. Sometimes a product can smell or look "off, though a potential problem may not be obvious to the naked eye. "Unseen molds can trigger both minor and severe allergic reactions, so it is best to throw out an old mix than to risk anaphylactic shock - especially if you are prone to allergies.
Update: Link is now fixed
Well, not exactly. Scientists are working with an enzyme found in fruits and vegetables that may prove useful in
lessening severe allergic reactions to peanuts. In lab tests, the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO) changed the proteins
in peanut extracts such that they couldn't bind with certain antibodies and cause an allergic reaction. Still, this was
only true for two of the eight allergens found in peanuts, and tests on animals or humans are far off. The goal of the
current research is not to develop peanut products that are intended for those with peanut allergies, but to lower the
risk of severe reactions if someone were to accidentally consume peanuts.
