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Original poster

Worried about having eaten out of date nuts!

25 replies

LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 12:58

My husband, son and I have been eating out of date tree nuts (e.g. walnuts, Brazil nuts, pistachios) for the last few months. The packets must have been opened a while ago, and the Best Before dates were Feb 2019 and May 2019 respectively.

I've recently found out about aflatoxins and Im terrified that the nuts we've been eating have been contaminated with aflatoxin because they've been stored out of the fridge and are so far beyond their Best Before date.

Does anyone know if nuts can be contaminated with aflatoxin when stored at home?
I'm stressing out quite massively!
Thanks,

OP posts:
LoafOfSellotape · 26/07/2019 13:01

Isn't it peanuts which are affected? ( quick Google)

Cyclemad222 · 26/07/2019 13:01

It's fine

IAskTooManyQuestions · 26/07/2019 13:01

People store nuts in the fridge?

Interested in this thread?

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General food
thisnamechanger · 26/07/2019 13:03

Are you meant to out nuts in the fridge? I have never ever done that.

Original poster
LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 13:08

I didn't think you were meant to store nuts in the fridge either. And I don't think most people do.

Its just that since reading up about aflatoxin, I've realised that it hardly proliferates in fridge temperatures.

So I thought that the fact that I'd not stored the nuts in the fridge would be relevant to my enquiry/concern

OP posts:
Original poster
LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 13:11

@Cyclemad222 what makes you sound so confident? Do you think people have done this lots and been ok?

OP posts:
WhiteVixen · 26/07/2019 13:16

This may sound a bit harsh, I honestly don’t mean it to. Just can’t think of any other way to put it. Basically, it’s not worth getting stressed about what’s already done. You can’t un-eat the nuts. All you can do is not eat any more, if you’re worried.

I’ve only briefly read about aflatoxins just now after reading your OP, so I’m not sure what the extent of the risk is regarding what you’ve been eating. But even so, the nuts aren’t massively out of date. (Plus they’re ‘best before’ rather than ‘use by’). Do the nuts seem to have gone bad? Are they soft or funny tasting? Did you have any other concerns about eating them before you realised they were past their BB date?

hadthesnip2 · 26/07/2019 13:18

Never heard of nuts being stored in the fridge or someone being I'll after eating nuts that were only a couple of months out of date.

My litmus test is if the food is animal based then be wary but anything plant or vegetable based then dont worry if its out of date. You can usually tells if it smells of tastes "off"

Original poster
LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 13:19

@WhiteVixen you're right, there's nothing I can do now.

The nuts do look a bit old...not sure I remember what they taste like (my DH and son were the last to eat them, last weekend, and even then they put them in bowls of cereal and milk so not sure they'd have been able to taste anything funny)

OP posts:
IAskTooManyQuestions · 26/07/2019 13:22

TBH with you, I doubt ther isnt a poster here that doesnt have random christms nuts stashed away. I think you're a little OTT giving this head space.

JingsMahBucket · 26/07/2019 13:24

This is common sense lacking here. Do the nuts smell or taste rancid? No? Then they’re fine to eat.

Original poster
LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 13:29

I get very anxious about things in general. I just wanted to know if I'm being reasonable worrying about this?

OP posts:
minmooch · 26/07/2019 13:35

Yes I think YABU to be worrying so much about this.

It's only a few months after their BB date.

It's horrible though when you have anxieties.

dementedpixie · 26/07/2019 13:35

If its a best before date rather than use by then quality may suffer but they arent dangerous

Original poster
LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 13:38

The packets say consume within 2 weeks of opening. We opened these packets well over two weeks ago. Probably more like 6 to 8 weeks!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/07/2019 13:43

If you haven't had any bad effects then they are obviously ok

Original poster
LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 13:45

If you haven't had any bad effects then they are obviously ok Aflatoxin is a carcinogen, so its effects wouldn't be seen quickly

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 26/07/2019 13:49

It's just not something that would enter my head to be worried about.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 26/07/2019 13:52

Honestly you sound incredibly paranoid about this, are you usually so worried about such trivial things?

These nuts will be fine, you, your husband and your son will be fine. You need to stop worrying so much.

dementedpixie · 26/07/2019 13:54

www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/importing-nuts looks like they are tested and have to comply with permitted aflatoxin levels

Teddybear45 · 26/07/2019 13:57

Ignore the best before date. Were they off? If not then you shouldn’t worry.

Galicali · 26/07/2019 13:57

You think a packet of out of dat emits will give your whole family cancer?
Nuts are not your main problem. YABU. Have you tried CBT?

Original poster
LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 14:03

are you usually so worried about such trivial things? Yup! that's the thing...I have no idea if it is trivial and that's why I need to ask others...

OP posts:
Original poster
LoveWoodenToys · 26/07/2019 14:04

Have you tried CBT? yes. with limited success sadly

OP posts:
HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 26/07/2019 14:07

Yup! that's the thing...I have no idea if it is trivial and that's why I need to ask others...

I think you need to get some help for your anxiety, worrying about every little thing is no way to live your life.

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