Beware of Loose Walnuts Sold Without Packaging

Walnuts: Nutritious but Potentially Hazardous When Sold Loose. Walnuts rank among the most popular nuts consumed by Turkish consumers, eaten both on their own and in sweets and dishes. Are you aware that walnuts sold loose carry the risk of aflatoxin contamination that threatens your health? Samim Saner, Chairman of the Food Safety Association, has warned consumers who prefer loose walnuts about the risks they may face. Walnuts rank among the most consumed nuts by Turkish consumers. When purchasing walnuts, we need to ensure that the product has passed official inspections; know where and by whom it was produced; know the recommended consumption date (best before date); and be certain it has reached the consumer untouched.

The Greatest Danger: Aflatoxin

Drawing attention to serious microbiological risks in loose products, Samim Saner stated that when products are sold loose, they are also exposed to all types of microbes and mold contamination, and continued as follows: "The most harmful of the molds that multiply on dried nuts is Aflatoxin, which is listed by the World Health Organization as the number one carcinogenic substance on the list of cancer-causing substances. Aflatoxin is an extremely toxic chemical substance that results from invisible mold growth on dried nuts, spices and dried fruits that have not been dried and stored under proper conditions and are sold loose. Whether purchasing walnuts as a snack or for adding flavor to dishes and sweets, it is increasingly important to choose packaged products that are produced by authorized manufacturers with permission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, have passed official inspections, and whose producer and production location are known and which are protected against all external factors under hygienic conditions."

"Walnuts Support Brain Development in Children"

Specialist Dietitian Selahattin Dönmez emphasized that sources rich in Omega 3 fatty acids must be included in children's nutrition for brain development, while offering recommendations to consumers regarding the aflatoxin risk in loose walnuts. Ensure that the product you purchase is fresh, know the recommended consumption date, be certain it has reached you untouched, and choose trusted products packaged under hygienic conditions, he said. Noting that walnuts could be preferred among healthy snacks in school-age children's lunch boxes, Selahattin Dönmez stated that walnuts naturally contain Omega 3 and that this supports children's brain health. Dönmez added that adults must also include walnuts in balanced nutrition plans for heart health.