Can rice and steamed buns cause cancer in the refrigerator? Reminder: 3 kinds of food should not be placed in the refrigerator at will
27-year-old Xiaoxi has been suffering from stomach pains for nearly a month and immediately went to a local hospital for treatment.
According to Xiaoxi's symptoms, the doctor initially judged that it was chronic gastritis or duodenal ulcer, and then through color Doppler ultrasound and blood tests, it was shown that there were multiple space-occupying lesions in the liver , and the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) was far beyond the normal value . It was considered to be gastrointestinal Tumors with liver metastases .
In the end, under the strong advice of the doctor, Xiaoxi accepted the painless gastroscopy that scared her. The image showed that it was already in the advanced stage of gastric cancer, and it was a highly malignant signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach.
Through further consultation, the doctor learned that Xiaoxi's refrigerator was always filled with some foods that were promoted by supermarkets, and because of his busy work, Xiaoxi could not finish these foods in time. The food was always stored for several days, and finally Would be reluctant to waste it and eat it . Coupled with not eating on time, like staying up late... It is these bad habits that induce stomach cancer.
1. The refrigerator is not a safe
The refrigerator is the most common household appliance in the home, and its fresh-keeping effect is deeply loved by housewives.
The temperature of the refrigerator compartment is generally between 0°C and 4°C, which cannot solve the limitation of mold reproduction. Many foods will appear moldy after being stored for a long time.
And some bacteria that survive at low temperatures can also reproduce at this temperature . The representative food-borne pathogenic microorganisms in the refrigerator are:
1. Listeria monocytogenes
The full name of Listeria monocytogenes is Listeria monocytogenes. Common contaminated foods include aquatic products, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, etc., and can survive at 0°C-45°C.
Listeria monocytogenes mainly causes intestinal infection, usually with an incubation period of 8-48 hours, manifested as nausea and vomiting, fever, muscle aches, etc., and can also invade the nervous system and circulatory system, with an incubation period of 2-12 weeks, which can cause serious Sepsis and meningitis, although low in incidence, have high fatality rates.
2. Salmonella
Salmonella often lives in the body of humans and animals, and the main contaminated foods include eggs and egg products, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, etc., and are not resistant to high temperature.
The more common symptom of Salmonella infection is gastroenteritis, which is characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The incubation period is 12-36 hours, and the course of disease is 2-3 days . For severe infection, it can cause dehydration and shock, and some patients may even develop sepsis. .
3. Yersinia
The main contaminating food for Yersinia is raw pork . Yersinia infection may cause acute gastroenteritis, enterocolitis, and in severe cases, appendicitis and sepsis.
4. Shigella
Shigella is also known as Shigella, and its main contaminant food is fruit . After infection, it can cause intestinal infection, manifested as abdominal pain, fever and watery stools and other symptoms.
2. Is it easy to cause cancer when rice and steamed bread are placed in the refrigerator?
There is an article on the Internet saying that "food is easy to cause cancer in the refrigerator", pointing out that rice should not be put in the refrigerator, because the low temperature environment of the refrigerator will cause the rice to become moldy, and the aflatoxin produced can cause liver cancer and esophageal cancer. Does refrigerating rice really cause cancer?
In fact, putting rice in the refrigerator is more conducive to preservation , because the low temperature environment is conducive to reducing the activity of enzymes, which can inhibit the respiration of rice and reduce the production of free fatty acids, which in turn helps inhibit the oxidation of fatty acids in rice.
And below 20 ℃, the mold will be greatly reduced, and it will stop moving below 10 ℃, so the environment of the refrigerator can inhibit the reproduction of harmful substances in rice.
However, when storing, it needs to be sealed and packaged to avoid moisture absorption and dampness due to its easy absorption .
In addition, there are rumors that the raw material of steamed bread is flour, and steamed bread is easily contaminated by aflatoxin after being frozen for a long time, and eating it will also cause cancer. So, can the steamed buns really not be stored in the refrigerator?
Aspergillus flavus is produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, we can briefly analyze the environmental conditions required for the production of aflatoxin:
• The growth temperature of Aspergillus flavus is 12℃-42℃, and the optimum temperature is 33℃;
• Aspergillus flavus also has temperature requirements for toxin production, generally at 24℃-28℃;
• The minimum relative humidity for adaptation is 78%RH, and the optimum humidity is 93%-98%RH;
• Aflatoxin contamination most often occurs in humid and high humidity environments;
Now let's look at the freezer of the refrigerator. Its temperature is around -18°C, the highest humidity will not exceed 75%RH, and the average humidity is about 50%RH. This humidity and temperature are not suitable for the growth of Aspergillus flavus .
In addition, under freezing conditions, the life activities of microorganisms will be slowed down or even suspended, and basically no more mycin will be produced. Refrigeration is more suitable for long-term storage than room temperature storage.
Therefore, as long as the steamed buns are not contaminated before they are put into the refrigerator and the refrigerator is clean, the possibility that the steamed buns will breed Aspergillus flavus and cause cancer is not high.
3. These 3 types of food are not recommended to be put in the refrigerator
Although the freezing and refrigerating function of the refrigerator can help food keep fresh, there are still three kinds of foods that are not recommended for storage in the refrigerator.
• Chinese herbal medicines
Chinese herbal medicines are dry. If they are stored in the refrigerator, they may deteriorate due to moisture, which affects the medicinal properties and may even cause side effects.
Ma Guansheng, vice chairman of the Chinese Nutrition Society, reminded that for the more valuable Chinese herbal medicines, such as ginseng and deer antler, it is recommended to put them in a clean glass bottle, put an appropriate amount of glutinous rice that has been simmered and cooled, and seal the bottle cap tightly. Then put it in a cool and ventilated place.
•Honey
Honey is mainly sugar and has high osmotic pressure. Microorganisms are difficult to survive in this environment. Generally, they can be stored for a long time at room temperature.
However, if honey is stored in the refrigerator, in fact, the honey may be damp and crystallize to precipitate glucose. Although it will not affect the safety and nutritional value, the taste of honey will be greatly reduced.
• Dried food after opening
Dry packaged foods such as tea, coffee powder, milk powder, etc., have almost no moisture, and bacteria can hardly survive in this state, so they can be stored at room temperature without the refrigerator.
However, if it is stored in the refrigerator and the sealing measures are not taken, the moisture in the refrigerator will infiltrate, and there may be a chance of mildew.
Food also has a "shelf life" in the refrigerator, so how long can different foods be kept in the refrigerator?
In this regard, "Life Times" has cooperated with Professor Zhao Lichao from the School of Food Science of South China Agricultural University, Associate Professor Fan Zhihong from the School of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering of China Agricultural University, and Xia Pengbin, a nutritionist in charge of the Clinical Nutrition Department of Zhongda Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University, to integrate this food refrigerator storage. schedule.
Preferably, in order to reduce risk, the principles of refrigerator storage also need to be addressed .
First of all, it should be noted that the food is best wrapped in a fresh-keeping box or plastic wrap, so that it can be separately packaged , especially raw and cooked food.
Secondly, don't put too many things in the refrigerator, preferably seven points full , which is conducive to the circulation of air in the refrigerator.
Then, pay attention to the hygiene of the refrigerator . It is best to clean it once a month, especially the blood and stains produced by raw meat.
Finally, food stored in the refrigerator should be eaten in time. If it is not eaten within 3-5 days, it is best to throw it away.
In the eyes of many people, the refrigerator still seems to be an image of a "safe". But the refrigerator only prolongs the shelf life of food, it does not kill or suppress all bacteria. The food that is usually put in the refrigerator should be eaten as soon as possible, and do not rely on the refrigerator to store too much food.
References:
[1] "Come, check the "small hidden dangers" in the refrigerator [Healthy and Happy New Year]". China Disease Control News. 2022-01-16
[2] "Scared! These three foods are toxic and carcinogenic in the refrigerator? It's not too late to watch". Popular Science China. 2019-05-22
[3] "These 5 kinds of food, don't put them in the refrigerator at will! A picture to understand, the best storage time for food~". I am a big doctor. 2019-08-21
[4] "[Cousin's Favorites] The refrigerator is not a "safe", a table summarizes the best storage time for food". Life Times. 2019-08-30
[5] "Can't Bread and Fruit be Refrigerated? 6 kinds of foods that should not be put in the refrigerator, the first one you should always put! 》.Xiaowei Health.2020-07-27
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