Re: Corn, cereal and fungus/mycotoxins connection

[Guest guest]

I can see where any grains that were stored at one time would be easily subject

to mold contamination but would not fresh picked corn be okay?

>

>

> Well, reading those excellent URLs about corn mycotoxins,

> the first two were about corn cereal and how it can damage

> your intestinal wall, allowing molecules to leak in the abdominal

> cavity, or IBS.

>

[Guest guest]

-Barb: I have read that mold/mycotoxins can grow between the husk and the corn

itself if moisture is outside. I have given up corn completely. --

In , " barb1283 " <barb1283@...> wrote:

>

> I can see where any grains that were stored at one time would be easily

subject to mold contamination but would not fresh picked corn be okay?

>

>

> >

> >

> > Well, reading those excellent URLs about corn mycotoxins,

> > the first two were about corn cereal and how it can damage

> > your intestinal wall, allowing molecules to leak in the abdominal

> > cavity, or IBS.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

At 07:11 PM 7/23/2009, you wrote:

>

>

>I can see where any grains that were stored at one time would be

>easily subject to mold contamination but would not fresh picked corn be okay?

My readings of the posted URLs states the mold is in the soil, and

water splashes

and wind will pick up the spores and they will be captured by the

corn silk, and

the fungus grows down to the kernels, changing their color, and it then grows

down the rest of the inside, affecting all the kernels on the cob, with time.

So, no, fresh picked corn is not okay. It is the source of the

infection in the first place

in grain silos. Grain silos are disinfected between each load.

Good reading those URLs. Valuable insight into the process, and thus

making decisions, like presented with this good question. I had wondered

the same thing.

Apparently, 1/4th of all corn for human consumption is infected.

The milling process destroys the mycotoxin, 95% or more, so

humans and animals can eat corn 19 out of 20 times with no

symptoms of mycotoxin. Symptom levels vary per individual,

per amount eaten, and per how much mycotoxin was present.

So, that 1 out of 20 times, the symptom severity will span a vast range.

One might thing it was some other food item causing the ailing.

[Guest guest]

Hi Barb. I'd say from my reactions to mold infested, right after corn tassles

and starts makeing cernels the mold grows right along with it,

amd dries with it. it's in coen way before the storage. if it get's moistire

while stored or was to wet when stored,the mold will grow some more. it'sin all

dried grains, amounts vary.

> >

> >

> > Well, reading those excellent URLs about corn mycotoxins,

> > the first two were about corn cereal and how it can damage

> > your intestinal wall, allowing molecules to leak in the abdominal

> > cavity, or IBS.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

...but grain silos hold the grain and in the center of grain humidity can be

trapped and mold can grow. Also do you really think they disinfect between

shipments? When I see how sloppy meat is processed which is much more highly

contaminable, I really doubt anyone can trust that between each shipment of

grain, silos are disinfected. Are they completely emptied before more shipment

goes in? Perhaps they have a schedule of once a week. I could believe that,

and hope so.

You say mold splashing up on corn, getting into corn silk. All vegetables and

fruits must be affected by blowing and splashing soil. If corn is infected,

kernals would have infected look, or at least some of them would and corn silk

wouldn't look clean.

If husk is tight, and kernals look in good condition, I'm throwing it into

bowling water and enjoying fresh picked corn, but anything stored I try to avoid

as much as possible.

>>

> My readings of the posted URLs states the mold is in the soil, and

> water splashes

> and wind will pick up the spores and they will be captured by the

> corn silk,

[Guest guest]

As I understand grain silos, they store only the grain, after removing

everything else.

At 08:01 PM 7/26/2009, barb1283 wrote:

>Also do you really think they disinfect between shipments?

You're a silo owner, and you buy grain from a farmer.

You fill your silo. It's worth several million dollars to you.

Unless it has moldy walls, or bottom. Do you sterilize it first?

It costs ten thousand dollars to do it right.

Do you spend 10 grand to make over a million dollars?

Sure, some risk it. Others lose out, and lose their silo.

>You say mold splashing up on corn, getting into corn silk.

No, " I " did not say that. I read that, in two of the posted URLs,

and reposted what I read. Do not make the mistake that I

am an " expert " on this issue. I am not. I merely speed read,

and report back what might help.

Now, the silo being sterilized I knew from years ago.

The federal laws pertaining to this silo cleanliness are likely

good reading, if you need more information.

> All vegetables and fruits must be affected by blowing and splashing soil.

True. I've washed off the dirt in my gardens I've had.

And they all suffer from similar ailments.

Just yesterday I advised a friend the reason her peppers might

be getting soft stops, turning brown and black, was due to moisture

retained between it and the branches. She said she would stop

watering the leaves. A good idea. The base of the trunk is subject

to fungus growth, if left wet too long.

>If corn is infected, kernals would have infected look, or at least

>some of them would and corn silk wouldn't look clean.

I know the kernels change color, for most fungal types, but I have heard

of one that does not change the color, until the kernel surface starts dying.

But it's a rarer fungus.

What color would the silk be? How dirty? I'm very interesting so I

can choose my corn at the store.

Though, I always open the husk to view the entire kernel, or most of it,

so I do not waste my money. Like opening egg carton.

>If husk is tight, and kernals look in good condition, I'm throwing

>it into bowling water and enjoying fresh picked corn,

That's what I say, too.

>but anything stored I try to avoid as much as possible.

I do as well. You can tell by the flat spots on fruit.

I can not believe they store stuff for about a year,

just to sell it in the off season.

[Guest guest]

Are you seriously worried about the corn / grain contained in silos? What

about the corn " mounds " I've witnessed in Kansas along the highways simply

stored under big tarps? I've seen extremely large piles - probably a

hundred or more truckloads of corn stored in tremendous piles for months at

a time, stored on bare asphalt, under large tarps, awaiting further

transport. I have no idea what the corn was ultimately used for - food,

ethanol production or ?

[Guest guest]

Your right!!!! I have pictures of these piles of corn that was sent to me. Two

stories high and about 100 yds. long in the open. No cover, and you can see big

black spots where the mold is growing. The birds don't even touch it.

>

> Are you seriously worried about the corn / grain contained in silos? What

> about the corn " mounds " I've witnessed in Kansas along the highways simply

> stored under big tarps? I've seen extremely large piles - probably a

> hundred or more truckloads of corn stored in tremendous piles for months at

> a time, stored on bare asphalt, under large tarps, awaiting further

> transport. I have no idea what the corn was ultimately used for - food,

> ethanol production or ?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

All farmers in my rural area know corn is subject to a lot of mold. One called

smut if I remember correctly is a gormands delight, and sought after by those

who love the corn fungus.