Experts deny rumors that “mold chopsticks and chopping boards cause liver cancer” and show absolutely safe cleaning methods

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No scientific evidence yet

Many people are concerned about the information spreading that “using chopsticks, moldy cutting boards causes liver cancer”, however, experts claim “there is no scientific evidence”.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Con (Faculty of Chemistry, University of Natural Sciences, VNU) said that it is impossible to conclude that mold appears on wooden chopsticks and wooden cutting boards containing aflatoxin toxins, if accidentally ingested, the body will get cancer. liver letter.

Assoc. Dr. Tran Hong Con emphasized, so far, Aflatoxin has also been detected in foods with mold such as corn, rice… only.

“Last time, many foreign news sites shared this case that they often used wooden chopping boards and chopsticks that were moldy, so they had liver cancer. The owners of those articles said that mold from wooden chopsticks and wooden cutting boards contained aflatoxin toxins, leading to this dangerous disease. However, I would like to confirm that information like this has not been scientifically proven so far, so people should not be alarmed,” Assoc. Dr. Tran Hong Con emphasized.

According to Assoc. Dr. Con, using moldy wooden chopsticks and cutting boards is generally not good for health. Moldy wooden chopsticks and cutting boards show that hygiene has not been guaranteed. In humid conditions, mold bacteria are more likely to multiply and multiply. If mold enters the body, it can cause acute reactions such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting… Generally, the symptoms are similar to food poisoning.

Agreeing with this point of view, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Cam Phuong, Director of the Center for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine (Bach Mai Hospital) said that scientific studies up to now have proved that eating cereals molds such as rice, peanuts, beans, corn, nuts… contain aflatoxin which is a liver carcinogen.

As for moldy chopsticks and chopsticks, if the cutting board is not clean, it will easily cause acute diseases and other poisonings. Currently, there are no studies showing that moldy chopsticks and chopping boards contain aflatoxin toxins.

Aflatoxin is a mycotoxin produced naturally by certain species of Aspergillus (a type of mold). Currently, researchers have discovered about 16 different types of aflatoxin, of which Aflatoxin B1 is the most potent.

After entering the body of humans or animals, Aflatoxin B1 is mainly converted by the liver into another derivative, capable of inserting into DNA, causing gene mutations. If a gene mutation causes cells to divide endlessly, cancer will begin.

Since Aflatoxin B1 is mainly metabolized by the liver, it is also the most potent liver carcinogen known to man.

According to research documents of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Aflatoxin mold is very stable with heat. This chemical is white crystalline, does not decompose in normal cooking, so it is difficult to handle.

Chopsticks themselves, especially bamboo and wooden chopsticks, do not develop aflatoxin. According to a study by the Shanghai Consumer Protection Commission, wooden chopsticks and cutting boards themselves do not develop aflatoxin, but with long-term use, various cracks and grooves will appear on the surface of the aging material. , and some small food residues may be deposited in these “cracks”. If not cleaned and disinfected effectively, plus leaving these items in a humid environment, it only takes about 6 months to be contaminated with aflatoxin.

How to use chopsticks and wooden cutting boards safely

Ths. Lien Huong, Institute of Applied Medicine of Vietnam recommends, in order to use wooden cutting boards and chopsticks effectively and safely, you need to regularly clean them properly to prevent the cutting board from being contaminated with bacteria, such as E.coli. , can cause food poisoning.

Specifically, according to Assoc. The simplest way is to wash the wooden cutting board and chopsticks after use, then dry or dry, dry and then store in a dry place. Although our country’s climate is hot and humid, washing chopsticks and cutting boards properly so you won’t have to worry about mold attack.

The expert also emphasized that drying and drying wooden chopsticks and cutting boards is not an important issue that needs to be done regularly as long as you thoroughly wash the utensils and make sure to dry them. When storing utensils in a position where they are already dry, there is no need to worry about mold attack anymore.

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