Warning Issued Over Loose-Sold Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds

With the arrival of summer, consumption of sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds has increased in parks, gardens, terraces and balconies. But are we paying sufficient attention to how reliable, fresh and hygienic the seeds we consume are? Food Safety Association Chairman Samim Saner is warning consumers who prefer openly sold sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds about the risks they may face. With annual consumption exceeding 200,000 tonnes, we are among the world's most seed-loving countries. When purchasing sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, consumption of which increases especially during summer months, we need to check the expiration date of the product we choose, know where it was produced, and ensure it reached consumers without being handled.

Watch Out for Mold Toxin

Samim Saner, who drew attention to microbiological risks in openly sold products, emphasized that when products are exposed, they are also susceptible to all types of microbes and mold contamination. Saner stated, "The most harmful mold toxin is Aflatoxin, which the World Health Organization classifies as the number one carcinogenic substance. Aflatoxin is a toxic chemical substance that emerges as a result of invisible mold growth on dried nuts, spices and dried fruits that have not been dried and stored under proper conditions and are sold openly. Given the consumption levels in our country, the necessity of preferring packaged products that have passed official ministry controls when purchasing sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds becomes even more important," he said.

Adversely Affects Liver Health

Noting that consuming seeds in appropriate quantities is extremely important from both food waste and food safety perspectives, Saner said, "When we consume stale, old seeds, that bad taste in our mouth is not merely just a bad taste. At the same time, let us not forget that we are consuming mold toxins and fat oxidation products, and that mold toxins are the number one trigger for liver cancer. The way to access fresh and hygienic products and minimize all these health problems is to prefer packaged products with known origin, expiration date and that have passed official ministry controls," he stated.