In household kitchens, if nothing else is available, potatoes and onions are always there. When onions are stored for several days, black spots often appear on their surface. Sometimes these stains disappear when peeled or washed with water. However, many people add these onions to cooking in a hurry without even cleaning them, including those stains. Does this cause any harm? What are these stains actually?
Nutritionist Garima Goyal says, 'These are actually a type of fungus. However, they usually remain only on the outer layer of the onion peel. There is no problem if you peel and wash the onion. But if this fungus spreads to several layers of the onion, it is better to discard it.' She explained that fungal attacks occur on onion plants in hot and humid weather, which causes black spots on onions. Sometimes it remains on the surface, and sometimes it spreads inside. Sometimes there are black spots, and sometimes it becomes powder-like. Multiple fungi, including Aspergillus niger, cause this type of problem in onions.
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If onions have moisture or if there is high humidity in the air, such fungi can also attack. Black stains are visible when the peel is removed. This type of fungus sometimes makes onions toxic. Many people think that cooking at high temperatures kills germs. But the toxic effects of this type of fungus do not disappear even after cooking.
Ochratoxin is produced by this type of black fungus. This is a type of mycotoxin or toxic substance that can damage the kidneys and liver if it enters the body for a long time.
