Does this mean that all opened coconuts cannot be eaten?

Audit expert: Wang Guoyi

Postdoctoral fellow in Nutrition and Food Safety, China Agricultural University

As the weather gets hotter, many people choose to drink coconut water, which not only quenches thirst but is also nutritious. However, recently some netizens posted that they experienced vomiting and diarrhea after drinking spoiled coconut water, and some even went to the ICU.

Source | Screenshot from TikTok

For a while, the topic of #drinking pre-opened coconuts and going to the emergency room# was discussed by many people, and it also scared many friends who like coconut water. So, is spoiled coconut water really that dangerous? How to judge whether coconut water is spoiled? Can you still drink it safely?

1

Spoiled coconut water is "toxic"

The shell of a coconut is hard and needs special tools to open. Pre-opened coconuts are sold on the market to facilitate direct consumption by consumers. However, "opened" coconut water is easy to deteriorate and become "toxic".

Source | pexels

Generally speaking, after drinking spoiled coconut water, consumers will experience symptoms similar to acute gastroenteritis, such as upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. In severe cases, clinical symptoms such as toxic hepatitis may occur, causing shock or even death.

According to experts, this is bacterial poisoning caused by coconut spoilage, and the "suspected bacteria" that caused the poisoning are the following two.

One is Pseudomonas cocovenenans, which is widely found in fermented products, soaked foods and other starch products . Although it is not very toxic itself, it can produce highly toxic aflatoxin, causing food poisoning or even death.

In August 2020, a food poisoning incident occurred in Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province. A total of 12 people had a family dinner, and 9 of them became unwell after eating the homemade fermented product "sour soup" and subsequently died after failed rescue. The police suspected that the cause of death was food poisoning, and a certain concentration of fumonisin was detected in the "sour soup" and the stomach of the deceased, so they determined that the "real culprit" was fumonisin produced by contamination with Pseudomonas cereus .

Sour soup origin | Baidu Encyclopedia

Fumonisic acid is extremely heat-resistant and still retains its toxicity at a high temperature of 100°C. Ingestion will seriously damage human organs. The principle is that fumonisic acid can bind to the mitochondrial ADP/ATP carrier in the cell, blocking the transport of mitochondrial ATP synthesis, making it impossible for other parts of the cell to obtain energy, causing cell death. There is currently no specific drug for fumonisic acid.

The second is Arthrosporum , which can produce a neurotoxin, 3-nitropropionic acid, which is commonly found in moldy sugarcane . Arthrosporum, like fumonisin, is heat-resistant and highly toxic, which can damage the human central nervous system and even endanger life in severe cases.

There was a case abroad where a 69-year-old man vomited and felt nauseous after drinking coconut water, then had convulsions, fell into a coma, and eventually died. The doctor diagnosed the cause as: the coconut water was seriously deteriorated due to contamination by Arthrospora, producing 3-nitropropionic acid, which caused poisoning.

It seems that no matter what kind of mold causes the spoiled coconut water, it is very harmful to the human body. I believe many people will worry about accidentally ingesting spoiled coconut water.

However, the probability of eating spoiled food in life is still low. Spoiled food is obviously different from fresh food in appearance, smell and taste, and is easy to distinguish. All you need to do is be vigilant, learn to read food labels, choose fresh coconuts when purchasing, and observe whether it is spoiled before drinking, so as to avoid accidental ingestion as much as possible.

2

How to tell if a coconut is fresh

In this case, how do you tell if a coconut is spoiled? First, check whether the coconut you buy has been peeled and the coconut meat is exposed.

Source | pexels

If you buy unpeeled and opened coconuts, you can judge from several aspects: first, fresh coconuts have intact skin and smell fresh, and the three "eyes" on them have no sprouts . If there is a sour smell or the holes are moldy, it means that the coconut has deteriorated. Secondly, fresh coconuts are rich in coconut water, and there is a crisp sound of water when shaken, and it feels heavy in the hand, while coconuts that have been stored for a long time or have deteriorated will make a very obvious sound of water and are lighter in weight.

If you buy a pre-opened coconut, you need to observe the color and smell of the coconut meat and coconut water. Normally, the coconut meat is white in color, and the coconut water is clear and transparent with a light sweet taste. If the coconut has gone bad, the coconut meat will turn yellow and purple, the coconut water will also change its taste , and there may be obvious lumps and sediments.

Source | Baidu Encyclopedia

Even fresh coconuts need to be stored properly to prevent them from spoiling if they are not eaten immediately.

In fact, the shell of a complete coconut is hard and can resist bacteria very well. As long as it is placed in a dry and ventilated place, away from direct sunlight and water, it can generally be stored for 5-10 days . If you want to store it longer, you can put it in the refrigerator. However, the opened coconut is more "fragile". It should be refrigerated immediately after buying it home. It is recommended to eat it as soon as possible. If you can't finish it, store it in the refrigerator. It is best not to leave it for more than 48 hours .

3

Benefits and precautions of drinking coconut water

Coconut water tastes sweet and refreshing. It is rich in sugar, protein, minerals, vitamins, and trace elements such as potassium and magnesium. It is a natural electrolyte water that has the effects of cooling and quenching thirst, lowering blood pressure, and anti-oxidation. As a healthy and delicious drink, it is favored by many people.

Source | Baidu Encyclopedia

Although it is nutritious, it should be consumed in moderation.

Some people are allergic to certain ingredients in coconuts , and drinking too much may cause obvious allergic reactions and affect health. Coconut water is rich in sugar and potassium, and drinking too much can cause high blood sugar and high potassium levels , so diabetics and patients with hyperkalemia should try to avoid drinking too much.
In addition, coconut water is considered a cold drink. If people with weak spleen and stomach drink it directly, they are likely to experience symptoms of indigestion, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It is also not recommended for pregnant women to drink coconut water directly.

Seeing this, the editor reminds everyone that it is best to eat coconuts immediately after purchase to avoid storing them for too long. If you buy an opened coconut, smell it to check its condition. If there is no problem, you can drink it with peace of mind.