What happens If you eat expired Kurkure?

In this article, we will answer the question “What happens If you eat expired Kurkure?”, and discuss what are the risks of eating Kurkure after the expiration date.

What happens If you eat expired Kurkure?

If you eat expired Kurkure it is possible that nothing unusual happens, as eating expired food does not necessarily mean a health risk. However, if the expired Kurkure is spoiled, it can cause negative effects to your health (1,2).

Due to the elevated amount of fat in its composition, Kurkure is susceptible to rancidity, which is the oxidation of the lipids in the product (3). There are several health issues related to the frequent and long-term ingestion of the compound resulting from the oxidation reactions of lipids.

These compounds are considered toxic and can react with cells and the body DNA, causing mutation (2).

In addition, if the Kurkure has gained moisture during the long storage and expiration, it is possible that microorganisms have developed in the product. Although it is considered a low-moisture food, it may carry dormant microorganisms and spores, which develop as soon as conditions are favorable. 

Eating Kurkure contaminated by microorganisms or their toxins can lead to foodborne diseases (1).

What are the risks of eating expired Kurkuke?

Eating expired Kurkure can lead to negative effects on health as a long-term effect. Studies showed that a great number of flavored snacks available in the Indian market demonstrated an increased degree of lipid oxidation, despite the expiration date (4).

This indicates that these types of products are easily affected by oxidation reactions due to their high lipid content. Kurkure contains over 30% of fats in its composition (6). Fats oxidize as a natural process (chemical and enzymatic reactions) and are favored by conditions such as heat, presence of oxygen, metal ions and light (3,4).

Secondary products to the lipid oxidation reactions, such as aldehydes, ketones and epoxy-acids are able to interfere in the body metabolism, causing mutations, oxidation processes within the cells and other damages (2).

In the long term, the ingestion of oxidized lipids can lead to diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis and early aging.

In addition, after expiration, the moisture continent of the Kurkure may increase, favoring the development of microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria. The ingestion of foods contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms can lead to foodborne diseases.

Several food outbreaks were reported to being caused by the ingestion of contaminated snacks, involving pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7, Clostridium botulinum , Cronobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus , and Salmonella (1). 

How to identify if Kurkure is spoiled?

To identify if Kurkure is spoiled, you should be especially aware of its smell. The spoilage of Kurkure is noticed by the generation of off-odors and off-flavors, due to the presence of lipid oxidation products, such as aldehydes, ketones and alcohols. These compounds also characterize off-flavors in oxidized foods (2,3).

Staling of the Kurkure snacks is also a sign of spoilage, indicating that moisture is present. Increased moisture can be a risk, as it favors microbial growth (1). 

How to store Kurkure? 

Kurkure should be stored in a cool, dry, and dark place away from direct sunlight and heat. Ideally, the temperature in the pantry should be 50 to 70°F (10-20°C) (4,5). 

Once you have opened the packet of Kurkure, you should transfer the rest of the package content into an air-tight glass container, due to its high fat content. The presence of air, moisture and heat will accelerate the degradation of the product.

What are healthy options for Kurkure?

Healthy options for Kurkure are low-fat granola bars or cereal bars, dried fruit, popcorn and nuts and seeds, which are not considered high in calories, sugar, fat, or sodium (7). 

The ingestion of snacks containing  high fat, high sugar and high calorie is related to increased rates of obesity among adolescents. It is recommended to eat healthy snacks to prevent obesity. 

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “What happens If you eat expired Kurkure?”, and discussed what are the risks of eating Kurkure after the expiration date.

References

  1. Kuehm, Jeff, and Diana Casas. Salty snack foods. The Microbiological Safety of Low Water Activity Foods and Spices. 2014, 295-314.
  2. Grootveld, Martin, et al. Potential adverse public health effects afforded by the ingestion of dietary lipid oxidation product toxins: Significance of fried food sources. Nutrients, 2020, 12, 974.
  3. Barden, Leann, and Eric A. Decker. Lipid oxidation in low-moisture food: A review. Crit rev food sci nutr, 2016, 56, 2467-2482.
  4. Alkarkhi, Abbas FM, et al. An investigation of food quality and oil stability indices of Muruku by cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. Int. J. Adv. Sci. Eng. Inf. Technol, 2017, 7, 2279-2285.
  5. Van Laanen, Peggy. Safe home food storage. Texas FARMER Collection. 2002.
  6. Kurkure. Nutritional information. Pepsico India.

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