It is not recommended to eat sugarcane that is soft, discolored, smells like alcohol, has long hair, or has a red heart.

Generally, moldy sugarcane has a dark gray outer skin and a soft inside with a musty smell or a lees and sour smell. The cross-section is light yellow, orange-red, brown or has gray-black spots, and sometimes black mold can be seen. Dots or white bacterial film. In addition, some sugarcane with red hearts have been infected with germs before and are not recommended for consumption.

Data show that the toxin (3-nitropropionic acid) produced by sugar cane mold is generally poisoned at a dose of 12.5 mg per kilogram of body weight, which means that an adult weighing 60 kilograms is poisoned by toxins. The dose is 0.75g; the dose for toxin poisoning in a 20kg child is 0.5g. The level of toxins in sugarcane after it becomes moldy actually depends on the degree of moldiness in the sugarcane.

Extended information:

If there is a relationship between Qingming Festival and sugar cane poisoning, it is related to the warming weather. The temperature continues to rise in spring, which is suitable for the growth and reproduction of mold and other miscellaneous bacteria. This is also the reason why most foods are not easy to preserve at room temperature.

Sugarcane in this season is prone to mildew, and moldy sugarcane has the risk of producing toxins. It’s not that sugarcane after the Qingming Festival is more venomous than poisonous snakes. In fact, most sugarcane poisoning incidents occur from February to April every year. Most of the people who are poisoned are children. In other words, as long as sugarcane becomes moldy, it will still lead to "poisoning death" whether around Qingming Festival or other seasons.

In addition, if sugarcane becomes moldy, toxins may be produced. Sellers may not be aware of the dangers of toxins produced by moldy sugarcane, and they may not want to throw it away and just squeeze the juice directly. Such sugarcane juice may contain a higher level of toxins. , the risk of poisoning is greater. Therefore, it is best not to drink the squeezed "finished sugar cane juice". Of course, if the sugar cane is fresh and not moldy, there is no problem in buying freshly squeezed sugar cane juice. If you want to drink sugarcane juice, it is best to choose it yourself and buy it now.

People's Daily Online-Don't eat these 5 types of sugar cane or you may be poisoned to death