The importance of the refrigerator as an important tool for us to store food is self-evident. Rumors about formaldehyde will be released by certain foods in the refrigerator can always be found on the Internet, which in turn will cause leukemia, which has attracted widespread public attention.

So, are these rumors true or false? What foods may release formaldehyde when kept in the refrigerator? And how can we prepare for and respond to it?

Does peanuts produce xanthromycin when put in the refrigerator?

Regarding the "peanuts can't be put in the freezer" mentioned in the video, there is actually no scientific basis to support this idea. This view is vague and simply claims that "harmful substances will be generated", but does not clearly specify the specific types of hazardous substances and the toxicity and carcinogenic mechanisms. Therefore, this view is not credible.

In addition, there are some statements on the Internet claiming that "peanuts will produce yellow yeast yeast toxin when put in the refrigerator, which poses a carcinogenic risk".

In fact, yeast yeast toxin is indeed harmful and carcinogenic, and is classified as a "Class I carcinogen" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization. However, in the storage environment of the refrigerator, the toxin is not easily produced.

Aspergillus flavus is most suitable for producing toxins in an environment with a temperature of 4 °C ~ 0 °C and a relative humidity of 0% to 0%, while the refrigeration temperature of the refrigerator is usually around 0 °C and the relative humidity is also low, which does not meet the suitable conditions for the toxin production of Aspergillus flavus.

Conversely, it is safer to store peanuts in the refrigerator in a refrigerated environment than at room temperature. Environments with higher room temperatures are more likely to lead to the risk of aflatoxin.

As a result, peanuts can be safely stored in the refrigerator.

Do noodles really contain formaldehyde?

In fact, formaldehyde is found in many natural foods such as noodles (flour), fruits, vegetables, milk, and aquatic products. Formaldehyde is an intermediate product of cellular metabolism, and it is also contained in the blood of the human body, as well as in other organisms.

The human body can tolerate a certain amount of formaldehyde, so formaldehyde that occurs naturally in food and that occurs naturally during storage is acceptable.

Noodles contain formaldehyde, mainly because flour contains formaldehyde, which is naturally present in flour and is also known as the "baseline level of formaldehyde".

Is formaldehyde artificially added?

Some unscrupulous merchants may add formaldehyde, or even add "hanging white pieces (formaldehyde sodium bisulfite)" to noodles. The main reason for adding hanging white pieces to noodles is to improve the appearance and texture of the food.

How can you tell if a hanging piece has been added to the noodle stick?

1. Observe the color: normal noodles are white or pale yellow and have a certain luster; Noodles bleached in hanging white cubes are usually dark yellow or grayish-yellow, dull and dull in color.

2. Olfactory sensation: Normal noodles have the natural aroma of flour, while noodles bleached by hanging white blocks will have a sour smell and even a mildew smell.

However, regardless of the dosage of formaldehyde, it is illegal to artificially add formaldehyde to food.

What is the toxicity and harm of formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is a colorless but pungent odor gas formed by a saturated solution with water called "formalin", which is commonly used for specimen preservation and embalming.

Excessive intake of formaldehyde can cause the following major hazards:

1. Cause harm to the respiratory mucosa and respiratory tract, and long-term exposure to a large number of people will increase the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer.

2. It has great irritation and harm to the digestive system, resulting in nausea, vomiting and other symptoms; In severe cases, kidney function may be impaired, leading to malformations and poisoning.

3. Excessive intake of formaldehyde also increases the risk of many cancers (including leukemia), and may also increase the risk of menstrual disorders and infertility problems for women.

Are noodles more likely to volatilize formaldehyde when put in the refrigerator?

On the one hand, noodles purchased through formal channels will not be additionally added with substances containing formaldehyde, and the illegal addition incident is only an isolated case.

On the other hand, the refrigeration temperature (low temperature) in the refrigerator is not conducive to the production and volatilization of formaldehyde.

Therefore, this kind of rhetoric only exacerbates people's panic about a certain food, and we cannot believe this claim.

Can you get leukemia from exposure to formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is recognized as a "Class I carcinogen" in the world, and there is sufficient evidence of a correlation between formaldehyde and cancer. Long-term exposure or exposure to formaldehyde in high doses may indeed increase the risk of leukemia.

However, there is no theory that "exposure to formaldehyde will inevitably lead to leukemia". There is a toxic, carcinogenic dose threshold for any toxic substance.

Therefore, we should be rational about this "panic talk".

How to distinguish whether formaldehyde is added to food?

By smelling the taste: Formaldehyde is very volatile, if noodles or other foods have obvious pungent odors or chemical tastes, it indicates that there is a problem with the food and it is not recommended to buy it.

By observing the color, if the color of the food exceeds the normal white, and the volume increases significantly, it may be treated with formaldehyde.

How to avoid foods containing formaldehyde?

Buy food at regular supermarkets or large farmers' markets. Eat a variety of foods in moderation to avoid food safety risks as much as possible. Formaldehyde is volatile in food at high temperatures, and the risk can be reduced by heating it completely before consuming it.

Therefore, peanuts and noodles can be stored in the refrigerator, as long as you choose foods of guaranteed quality, which will not cause leukemia. Let's stop spreading rumors.

Transferred from: The Elder Daily