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Is There Mold in Organic Coffee?
As consumers, when we shop for coffee we want to support sustainable and non-contaminating growing methods, but organic certification of coffee can sometimes be misleading. While the USDA requires all stages of coffee supply chain to adhere to organic standards, this does not always happen and organic certification of particular brands does not ensure they are free from mold and mycotoxins – therefore when purchasing Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee it can be found with an independent test report rating as clean – an example being Alex’s Low-Acid Organic Coffee which boasts this distinction!
As with anything, whether or not there’s mold in organic coffee depends on your definition of “moldy.” Most people do not notice tiny amounts of mold in their food and even when they do, symptoms tend to be mild – stomach upset or earthy or musty flavors can result. But mycotoxins may be to blame if you are experiencing chronic fatigue, brain fog or memory issues as they’re produced by certain crops growing fungi that produce mycotoxins that can be consumed via eating said crops.
Mycotoxins are very harmful to human health when consumed in large amounts. Mycotoxins can be found in some grains, legumes, vegetables and coffee beans – with aflatoxin being the most prevalent mycotoxin found therein and potentially leading to liver and kidney damage, possibly even cancer in some individuals. Mycotoxins such as Aflatoxin can be produced by mold in food items like coffee; their most prevalent source is non-organic corn, soybeans and peanuts (NON-ORGANIC corn also produces aflatoxins); organic farmers use special harvesting and storage methods which inhibit mold growth while simultaneously reducing levels of mycotoxin mycotoxin in their products reducing levels by mycotoxin mycotoxin mycotoxin mycotoxin concentration in their products by significantly lessening mycotoxin concentration levels by significantly more.
Mycotoxin levels in coffee are extremely low and do not pose any significant threat to healthy adults. If you experience chronic fatigue or other conditions such as memory issues, night sweats or headaches as a result of drinking moldy coffee, mycotoxins could be to blame; it would be wiser to switch brands that do not contain mold-derived mycotoxins as soon as possible.
Find coffee that meets both organic and mold-free criteria by purchasing one that has been independently tested for mycotoxins. Choose a brand certified by USDA, Quality Assurance and Fair Trade certifications; additionally it should be grown at high altitudes which makes conditions less conducive to mycotoxins and mold growth. One company which has undergone independent tests for mycotoxins, mold and yeast is Purity Coffee Flow; their whole bean options have proven 65% higher antioxidant levels than any other organic coffee available on the market!