It is a more common situation than you think: after a few days stored in the fridge or pantry, carrots begin to reveal dark spots on the shell. What many consumers do not know is that these signs are not just a visual problem, but evidence of fungi that can pose health risks.
What the dark spots reveal
According to Markus Schmidt-Heydt, deputy director of the Max Rubner Institute (MRI), quoted by the German consumer magazine and Öko Test product tests, these spots correspond to the presence of fungi capable of producing over 60 different mycotoxins. These toxic substances, even in small quantities, can affect the human organism and cause health complications.
The expert recommends that, given the presence of recent and limited spots, the affected zone is generously cut and the rest of the vegetable quickly consumes. However, when the marks are scattered or when the carrot has a bitter taste, the orientation is clear: it should be completely discarded.
The invisible danger of mycotoxins
According to the same source, the difficulty is that the extent of contamination is not always visible to the naked eye. The fungus can spread inside the food without obvious exterior signs, making it risky even if only an apparent part is compromised.
Food security experts stress that the safest recommendation is to avoid consuming any food with mold. Although removing a small area may seem enough, there is never a guarantee that the remaining product is mycotoxins free.
How to prevent the problem at home
The best way to deal with these situations is to prevent them. The magazine advises to store carrots in fresh and ventilated places, preferably in the refrigerator, avoiding bags or containers that accumulate humidity.
Immediately removing specimens with signs of deterioration also helps to lock the spread of the fungus to other vegetables.
Another important care is consuming vegetables within a few days after purchase, reducing the likelihood of developing dark spots.
Enjoy or discard: the secure decision
In short, recent and recent spots can be removed, but when the problem is more advanced, the solution is not even consuming the food.
The expert council of course: it is better to rule out a carrot than to risk the intake of harmful toxins.
The warning reinforces the importance of not underestimating seemingly harmless signs in vegetable bark. What looks like a smaller detail can, after all, hiding invisible health risks.
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