Shock! The fatal danger behind Sichuan and Chongqing's "red" glutinous rice balls, do you still dare to eat them?

There is a saying in some areas of Sichuan and Chongqing that it is auspicious if the glutinous rice balls cooked on the morning of the first day of the New Year are red or slightly brownish red, which means that the new year will be prosperous and full of good luck! However, this kind of "red" glutinous rice balls has serious safety hazards and must be taken seriously. Don't let a good reunion dinner end up in the hospital. Next, let me take a few minutes to show you the dangers of "red" glutinous rice balls!

Image source: Pixabay

How are “red” glutinous rice balls formed?

The main reason why glutinous rice balls turn red after being cooked is that the glutinous rice flour has deteriorated, mostly due to contamination by Pseudomonas cocovenenans, which releases yellow-red or pink pigments when heated, and although heating can kill the bacteria, the toxins they produce are very stable.

What is Pseudomonas cocovenenans?

Pseudomonas cocovenenans is also known as Flavobacterium farinofermentans, Pseudomonas farinofermentans, and Iridescent Flavobacterium[1]. When Pseudomonas cocovenenans contaminates food, it is exposed to a hot, humid, and airtight environment, where it is very likely to produce bongkrekic acid and toxoflavin. Bongkrekic acid is the main cause of severe food poisoning and death, with a mortality rate of 40% to 100%[2]. It is extremely heat-resistant, and even boiling water at 100°C or steaming in a pressure cooker (121°C) cannot destroy its toxicity[3]. Acute poisoning can occur 0.5 to 12 hours after ingestion, causing serious damage to important organs such as the liver, kidneys, and brain.

What are the possible symptoms of eating "red" glutinous rice balls?

Patients with mild poisoning may experience symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and dizziness; if the poisoning is more serious, it may cause meningitis, leukemia, pneumonia, liver damage, unconsciousness, convulsions, and even death.

What should you do if you eat “red” glutinous rice balls?

1. Induce vomiting as soon as possible and spit out the food you have eaten in time to reduce the harm of toxins to the body.

2. Seek medical attention promptly and tell your doctor about your dietary experiences.

How to prevent it?

1. Avoid eating spoiled glutinous rice flour: Glutinous rice flour that has been stored for a long time is prone to spoilage. It is recommended to purchase glutinous rice flour from regular channels and pay attention to the storage environment to avoid moisture and high temperature.

2. Observe the color of the glutinous rice balls: If the glutinous rice balls turn red after cooking, it can be basically determined that they have gone bad. Normal glutinous rice flour glutinous rice balls and soup are white. If they turn red, it means that they have been contaminated by Pseudomonas cocovenenans, which will turn yellow-red when heated with water.

3. How to deal with spoiled glutinous rice balls: If you find that the cooked glutinous rice balls are red, you should dispose of them immediately and avoid continuing to eat them to avoid food poisoning.

References:

[1] A meal of noodles killed 8 people? You may have this deadly bacteria at home, with a mortality rate of over 40%. Tencent Medical Dictionary. https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20210528A01KVL00

[2] Cai Qiuping, Huang Xiangmei, Liao Jianmeng, Gao Ping, Chen Rimeng. The “invisible killer” on the dining table - fumonisin[J]. Food Industry, 2024(12): 38-40.

[3] Comprehensive report of this journal. Fumonisic acid: the "invisible killer" on the dining table [J]. Invention and Innovation (Junior High School Students), 2023(10): 50.

Source: Chongqing Science Writers Association

Author: Xie Jinhua, Chief Technician of Chongqing Zhongxian Center for Disease Control and Prevention; Zou Jingbo, Chief Technician of Mr. Zou's Science Garden

Audit expert: Li Hanbin

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