Coles is recalling two of its homebrand peanut butter products, over concerns they have been contaminated with aflatoxin, a toxic chemical linked to liver cancer.

The supermarket chain has issued the recall notice for Coles Smooth Peanut Butter 1kg and Coles Crunchy Peanut Butter 1kg, with the best before date of February 5 2027. They were sold in supermarkets and online nationally between May 1 and June 30 this year.

Aflatoxin can cause injury or illness if eaten, according to Australia’s food safety authority.

But what is aflatoxin? How does it get into food? And what is the risk if you eat it?

What is aflatoxin? Where does it occur?

Aflatoxins are a toxic chemical (a mycotoxin) produced by fungi. The mould-like fungi that produce aflatoxins belong to a large group called Aspergillus.

These fungi are found in all environments, for example in soils, compost, building surfaces and on crops and other plants, and can cause infections or poisoning in humans and animals.

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, which produce aflatoxins, thrive mainly in agricultural crops but also in soils, rotting food and compost. The fungi emerge as spores and form networks of microscopic filaments that can grow on products such as grains and nuts.

As these fungi grow they release a range of chemicals, including aflatoxins, that can lead to contamination of produce before and after harvest, or after processing.

Aflatoxins are some of the most poisonous types of mycotoxin.

Different kinds of aflatoxins usually affect contaminated food (aflatoxins B1, B2, G1), crops (G2) and milk (M1).

Which foods are most risky?

Crops produced and stored in warm, humid or moist tropical locations are most at risk, as toxin-producing moulds thrive in these conditions.

High-risk foods include peanuts, corn and tree nuts (such as brazil, walnut and pistachio nuts). The toxin-producing fungi can also grow on wheat, rice, sorghum and spice crops such as turmeric, chilli, ginger and coriander.

If animals graze on contaminated crops, their milk and meat can also become contaminated.

Internationally, the Joint Food and Agriculture Administration and World Health Organization is responsible for setting guidelines and monitoring standards for mycotoxins via its expert committee on food additives.

In Australia, aflatoxin food contamination is not common. In the past decade, there have only been a handful of recalls.

Why are aflatoxins dangerous?

Aflatoxins can damage your liver and cause cancer.

Eating a lot of contaminated foods over a short period of time can lead to aflatoxicosis, acute poisoning that immediately damages the liver. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and convulsions, and may be life-threating.

Over a long period, smaller amounts of contaminated foods can lead to liver cancer, birth defects, kidney disease and immune system dysfunction.

There is no specific treatment for alfatoxins. Management after acute or long-term exposure focuses on addressing symptoms and monitoring liver health.

How can I stay safe?

There is not much individuals can do to control the presence of aflatoxin and other mycotoxins in foods, as contamination occurs during agriculture and processing.

You should store nuts and nut products in a way that stops mould growing. Use well-sealed containers kept in dry and cool conditions.

Freezing and cooking may kill the fungi, but the toxin can survive extreme temperatures.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to see the fungi with the naked eye. However you should avoid visibly mouldy foods and throw away nuts and grains that are shrivelled or discoloured.

What should I do if I’ve bought or eaten these products?

Coles has advised customers to return the products to stores and contact its hotline for more information (1800 061 562).

If you’re concerned you may have eaten contaminated peanut butter, speak to a health professional.

Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University and Charles Oliver Morton, Senior Lecturer in Medical Microbiology, Western Sydney University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

My travels with autism started long before my diagnosis at the age of three years and three months.

My family noticed autistic features from around 15 months of age. I never looked at people and did not respond when called. I lined up toys instead of playing with them. When I wanted something, I took people’s hand to get it for me. I had frequent meltdowns in busy environments or when routines changed unexpectedly, but I couldn’t let people know why I was upset.

I was later diagnosed with autism. My family grieved to hear that I might never be able to lead an independent or full life.

But my mother wasted no time in organising supports. Soon, my days were filled with home-based intensive behavioural programs, speech therapy and other supports. But unfortunately, I never learned to speak.

But I learned to communicate another way

A turning point came when I was nine. I began learning how to communicate with a type of augmentative and alternative communication known as supported typing. I type on a machine with a keyboard, called a Lightwriter, which speaks what I type. Another person touches my shoulder as I type. This touch helps me be aware of my body, and helps me focus on communicating my message.

I used supported typing at school and now at university, where I am a PhD candidate. I’m researching neurodiversity in autistic people with minimal, unreliable, or no speech, or those with complex communication and high support needs.

With supported typing, I am able to live life more fully, to give a TEDx talk, one of the first by a nonspeaker, and to write my autobiography. I used supported typing to write this article.

How common is it for an autistic person to not speak?

Autism affects how people communicate, interact and perceive the world. Autistic people show differences in social communication as well as narrow interests, such as Lego or trains.

In 2022, there were 290,900 autistic Australians. About one-third are nonspeaking.

This nonspeaking autistic community is socially vulnerable and frequently experience nonacceptance and exclusion. As a member of this community, I am driven to bust some myths.

Myth 1: we don’t use language

Autistic nonspeakers cannot use speech to communicate. But many of us are verbal, that is, we understand and use language.

I am a visual thinker, and I sense my world in pictures and images. Initially, speech was just sounds without meaning. Around six years of age, I realised words were used to represent things and to communicate. By linking people’s speech to their behaviour, I began to understand the symbolic nature of language, which helped me communicate.

Because of sensory and movement differences, autistic people with complex communication needs require support to communicate, do routine activities and participate socially.

For instance, physical touch to our hand, arm or shoulder provides feedback on our position, balance and movement to help us point to pictures, spell or type. Support workers also help us focus and remain calm so we can communicate.

Myth 2: we don’t understand your mind

Autistic people, especially those with complex communication needs, need extra time to decode, make sense of, and abstract meaning from experiences.

But with effort and time, many autistic nonspeakers can empathise and understand other people’s minds.

This can involve using social stories to understand mental and emotional states. These teach us about social situations and how to participate. They can be used to describe what to expect ahead of time. They can give us time to rehearse and we can draw on them during the situation in real life.

For example, when meeting someone for the first time, we may feel overwhelmed. We use a social story to know what to expect, to sit at a comfortable distance to introduce ourselves, to ask and respond to questions. The story helps us process new information, and suggests how to tell people when we are overloaded and need space to chill.

Giving us the time, space and permission to process social situations helps us navigate social life.

Myth 3: we rock, hum and sometimes scream or run off for no reason

Autistic people, especially those with complex communication needs, can feel unsafe in busy environments. For example, bright lights or noises from people talking and moving around cause sensory overload and distress. This leads to increased stress levels and a reduced ability to respond appropriately.

Autistic nonspeakers may use various strategies to manage the overload and lessen this sensory distress. This may include lying down, staring at blinking lights or revolving objects, humming to block out overwhelming sensations, as well as rocking, spinning or weaving our bodies to restore a sense of balance. These behaviours allow us to self-regulate.

However, when these strategies are insufficient, autistic nonspeakers may behave in unconventional ways such as screaming, running off or having meltdowns.

Such behaviours do not arise because we don’t understand how to act appropriately. They occur when we feel highly unsafe and anxious in demanding situations.

When a quiet space is available, we will be able to chill and regain feelings of safety and control, without resorting to concerning behaviours.

The next time

So the next time you meet an autistic person who doesn’t speak, please meet us halfway. Give us the time and space to process and think about how to reply.

Timothy HoYuan Chan, PhD Candidate, Sociology, Faculty of Education and Arts, Australian Catholic University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.