Their urgent warning was simple: “Throw it away immediately.”

The Shocking Discovery Inside the Fridge

According to doctors, the couple had been regularly consuming a moldy, improperly stored food item that is extremely dangerous when contaminated:
leftover peanuts, nuts, and grains stored for long periods in humid conditions.

These foods can easily develop aflatoxins, a toxin produced by certain molds.
Aflatoxin is one of the most potent natural carcinogens known, strongly linked to liver cancer.

Even when the mold is invisible to the eye, the toxin may still be present — and no heat, boiling water, or cooking method can destroy it.

Why Aflatoxins Are So Dangerous

Doctors explained that aflatoxins:

• Directly damage liver cells

• Accumulate in the body over time

• Dramatically increase the risk of liver cancer

• Often show no early symptoms

Long-term intake of contaminated nuts, grains, or dried foods is a well-known risk factor in many regions.

The Couple’s Habit That Led to Disaster

The couple admitted they had been:

• Buying nuts, grains, and dried foods in bulk

• Storing them for months in the refrigerator

• Consuming them even when they tasted slightly “off”

• Eating leftovers that had been kept too long

Humidity inside the fridge, combined with long storage times, created ideal conditions for mold growth — even if it wasn’t visible.

Doctors concluded that chronic exposure to aflatoxins was the likely cause of their simultaneous diagnosis.

Foods Most Prone to Aflatoxin Contamination

Experts warn that the following foods are at highest risk when stored improperly:

• Peanuts and peanut-based products

• Walnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios

• Corn and cornmeal

• Rice and rice-based foods

• Dried beans

• Old cooking oil

• Moldy bread or grains

These foods should never be kept for long periods, especially in humid environments.

How to Protect Yourself

Doctors advise:

1. Do not consume nuts or grains with any strange smell or bitter taste

2. Avoid storing these foods for months, even in the refrigerator

3. Buy smaller quantities and consume them quickly

4. Keep all dried foods in airtight containers in a cool, dry place

5. Discard anything that shows even the slightest mold

When in doubt, throw it out — aflatoxins cannot be removed, cleaned, or cooked away.