Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu: "I recommend that you do not consume pistachios for a while!"

Pointing out that pistachios have been abundant and cheap recently, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu stated that "I recommend that you do not consume pistachios for a while in order not to risk your health. Stay away from products that you are not sure of in terms of quality and reliability to protect yourself from the possible harm of toxic substances such as aflatoxin."

Üsküdar University Graduate School of Addiction and Forensic Sciences Head of Biosafety Department Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu evaluated the claims of "mold and aflatoxin" in pistachios, which are on the agenda with Dubai chocolate.

The abundance of pistachios and decrease in prices...

Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu warned about the abundance and decrease in prices of pistachios in recent days and pointed out that the reasons behind the sudden increase in pistachios in the market may pose risks related to public health.

Referring to the aflatoxin problem, which has recently been the subject of news, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu stated that "Aflatoxin is known as a toxin produced by some fungal species and has serious negative effects on human health. If consumed uncontrollably, this substance can cause various health problems, from liver damage to cancer."

It can pose a serious risk to public health

Reminding that there have been reports that some pistachios exported to Europe have been sent back due to the detection of aflatoxin in the past days, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu said, "I am concerned about whether the pistachios, which are now being sold at cheap prices in the domestic market, are these returned products. Unfortunately, in such cases, we are afraid of 'can the products that cannot be sold in the foreign market and returned to the consumer be offered to the consumer in the domestic market'. This situation may pose a serious risk to public health, it is imperative to share with consumers what happens to products that cannot be sold abroad for reasons such as aflatoxin, food safety is a very important issue."

Stay away from products you are not sure about!

Stating that products with the risk of aflatoxin can cause more serious health problems, especially in children, the elderly and individuals with weak immune systems, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu called on citizens to be more cautious in the consumption of pistachios and expressed that "I recommend that you do not consume pistachios for a while in order not to risk your health. Stay away from products that you are not sure of in terms of quality and reliability to protect yourself from the possible harm of toxic substances such as aflatoxin."

What is aflatoxin?

Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu gave an important warning to the public about aflatoxin and stated that this substance is an extremely dangerous toxin commonly produced by some mold fungi.

Stating that aflatoxin is produced especially by mold fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu emphasized that these toxins can generally develop easily in humid and hot environments.

Stating that molds can multiply rapidly and produce toxins if foods are not stored under appropriate conditions, Yılancıoğlu stated that the risk of aflatoxin is higher, especially in cereals, hazelnuts, peanuts, corn and some spices.

In case of long-term and continuous consumption, it can cause serious health problems

Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu continued his remarks as follows:

"Although exposure to aflatoxin may have mild symptoms such as stomach and intestinal disorders in the short term, it can lead to more serious health problems in the case of long-term and continuous consumption. Especially in people who are exposed to this toxin for a long time, serious health problems up to liver damage and cancer may occur."

Stating that liver cancer is one of the most dangerous consequences of long-term contact with aflatoxin, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu emphasized that this type of cancer is usually difficult to respond to treatment and can be fatal.

Liver cancer that develops due to aflatoxin can progress rapidly

Stating that the damage caused by aflatoxin on the liver is irreversible, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu said that "Liver cancer is considered one of the deadliest types of cancer in the world, and unfortunately, the life expectancy for people with this disease is low compared to the type of cancer. Aflatoxin-induced liver cancer can often progress rapidly and cause patients to die within 6 to 12 months of diagnosis."

Do not risk your health by being tempted by the price

For this reason, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu, who made an important warning to consumers, also drew attention to the importance of healthy food consumption and said that "Pay attention to the production conditions, storage and storage processes of the foods you consume. Take care to choose products that are reliable and stored in good conditions. Do not risk your health by being tempted by the price, especially in risky products such as peanuts. Conscious consumer behavior about food safety is extremely important to protect against dangers such as aflatoxin."

Finally, giving information about the measures that can be taken to reduce aflatoxin contamination, Assoc. Prof. Kaan Yılancıoğlu concluded his remarks "Producers need to be careful in field and storage processes to prevent aflatoxin formation. Providing the necessary inspections and appropriate storage conditions at every stage of the process from field to table can greatly reduce the negative effects of this toxin on human health."

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)