Here Be Dragons

Because Sometimes Ky is Right

This just in: peanut butter actually can kill you. Maryanne had told me about Ky's fear of stale peanut butter and I immediately scoffed at it. (Maryanne is currently, annoyingly editing over my shoulder.) Then I researched it on the internet, the great repository of all knowledge, and found out about aflatoxin and aspergillus flavus. The first is a toxin that can be and usually is found in corn, peanuts and cotton seed crops. It does not kill you directly but is one of many carcinogens in our world. The latter is the mold that grows on these foods that can produce aflatoxin. It is invisible to the naked eye in small quantities and is always found in some measure in anything containing corn or peanuts.

So does this mean that we should immediately write our MPs demanding that peanut butter be banned or at least regulated? Well, no. You see ALL foods are already regulated and legislation already exists to limit the chance that your food will kill you. In the case of A. Flavus farmers and transportation officials have to ensure that peanuts and corn are stored and transported at a proper temperature and humidity that limits the growth of this mold. In addition to this, food is only be allowed to be sold for a certain period of time. (This is the whole "best before date" concept.)

What should be done then to limit your exposure to aflatoxin? Start by making sure that you store your peanuts and peanut butter in a dry, not overly humid cupboard (if you really want to you could even refrigerate them to further hamper the molds growth). Only buy what you will need in the short term. This is one of those things that you do not need to buy in enormous bulk amounts that will last for years. Although, even if you do you will likely be okay because there are things in life way may carcinogenic than aflatoxin and it should not be high on the avoid list. With that said though do not be to cavalier about it. In other words do not knowingly buy stale peanuts.

Well, there you go; Ky is right. You should avoid that old peanut butter that has been in your grandma's cupboard since you were wee tiny.