Eating Pancakes Could Kill You (Darwin, heaven, Article)

[Victor]

Dear Abby: I recently made a batch of pancakes for my 14-year-old son, using a mix that was in our pantry. He said that they tasted "funny," but ate them anyway. He began having difficulty breathing and his lips began turning purple. I had him sit on the sofa and told him to relax. He was wheezing while inhaling and exhaling.

My husband, a volunteer firefighter and EMT, heated up some water, and we had my son lean over the water so the steam could clear his chest and sinuses. Soon, his breathing became more regular and his lips returned to a more normal color.

We checked the date on the box of pancake mix and, to my dismay, found it was very outdated. As a reference librarian at an academic institution, I have the ability to search through many research databases. I did just that, and found an article the next day that mentioned a 19-year-old male dying after eating pancakes made with outdated mix. Apparently, the mold that forms in old pancake mix can be toxic!

When we told our friends about my son's close call, we were surprised at the number of people who mentioned that they should check their own pancake mix since they don't use it often. I hope your readers will take the time to check the expiration date on their boxes.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/featur...tainment-front

[angellous_evangellous]

Anything can kill you if you're an idiot.

http://www.darwinawards.com/

[Jaymes]

It doesn't take idiocy to use an outdated pancake mix once. Heavens know ours can sit up there for months without ever seeing the light of day.

Thanks for the headsup, Victor! I'll be sure to pass this on to my parents.

[angellous_evangellous]

Originally Posted by Jensa

It doesn't take idiocy to use an outdated pancake mix once.

Either way it's a bad way to go.

[FFH]

Thanks for the heads up, but I don't buy pancake mix, and I always look for expiration dates on everything I buy and store.

I take whole wheat kernals and run them through an electric wheat grinder, then put the freshly ground flour into a blender with milk and eggs. I never use baking powder, just eggs, to make them rise.

[finalfrogo]

Originally Posted by Jensa

It doesn't take idiocy to use an outdated pancake mix once.

Perhaps twice?

[jeffrey]

Originally Posted by Jensa

It doesn't take idiocy to use an outdated pancake mix once. Heavens know ours can sit up there for months without ever seeing the light of day.

Thanks for the headsup, Victor! I'll be sure to pass this on to my parents.

I agree. I've bought stuff from the store before that was expired and didn't realize until I got home. I usually check too, but mostly milk and meat.

[Shadow Wolf]

Maybe thats why I've been sick. Been living at my dads house, and since hes away, thier is very little food. I decided to take a box of pancake mix, and eat some pancakes. Didn't think to check the experation date though.

[Bastet]

Like FFH, I don't buy pancake mix - I make it myself. And even then, only about once or twice a year.

I replace my unused flour if it smells funny, too. I just don't bake as much as I used to, so it doesn't get used quickly enough.