Boxed pancake mix is a staple in every kitchen pantry, and it’s is a weekend go-to for breakfast lovers of any age. However, that box of pancake mix may be harboring a dangerous ingredient that could actually kill you. If you let your pancake mix expire, you could be potentially putting you and your family at major risk. And, certainly, no stack of pancakes is worth that.
Since the early 2000s, there have been several reports of toxic expired pancake mix causing illness or death. One of the first fatal reactions occurred in 2001. A 19-year-old male, who had a mold allergy, made a batch of pancakes with mix that was approximately two years old.
His friends said the pancakes tasted like “rubbing alcohol.”
The victim continued to eat them, however. And the American Journal of Forensic Medical Pathology went on to report, “The decedent continued to eat the pancakes and suddenly became short of breath… He was taken to a nearby clinic, where he became unresponsive and died.”
After the fatal event, inspectors thoroughly tested the pancake mix. Apparently, it had a surprising amount of mold and contained Penicillium, Fusarium, Mucor, and Aspergillus. Because of the man’s allergy to mold and his struggle with chronic asthma, the expired pancake mix ultimately caused his death.
A similar occurrence happened in 2006.
One mother unknowingly fed her 14-year-old son expired pancake mix and he, too, began to have difficulty breathing. But he did tell his mother the pancakes tasted “funny.” Luckily the boy was able to calm his breathing and relieve his wheezing with steam. And although he survived, his mother wrote to the Chicago Tribune to give other parents the heads up.
In 2008, yet another unfortunate incident took place.
This time, a 52-year-old woman inhaled the vapors from expired pancake mix that contained dust mites. She also survived but suffered severe life-threatening anaphylaxis.
The evidence shows that pancake mix can be deadly.
You might not recognize if the batter is dangerously old just by looking at it, though. So make sure to check the expiration date printed before whipping up your next pancake batch. It could seriously be a matter of life and death.
We’re weeping at the beauty. How could these godly creations ever hurt us?
Try not to take these claims lightly.
And if you’re unsure how long ago you bought your box and can’t find a date printed on the packaging, it’s best to chuck the pancake mix before someone gets hurt. Even if you don’t have a mold allergy, you really don’t want to be eating Penicillium and dust mites.
In fact, we might have a better idea.
You may just want to consider making your own pancake mix from scratch. It’s pretty easy, and you can customize the recipe to make it gourmet — like our Pumpkin Pancakes:
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIOy9JD90_w"]Or alter your pancake recipe to make crepes. Once you master crepe-making you can attempt the crepe cake:
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTknNG-L3PY"]Then again, you could fool everyone and make a pancake pan cake. You see what we did there?
[fm_youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOd3CS9YqOI"]At least we made something that resembled a pancake.
IHOP, however, is currently trying to trick people into calling burgers “pancakes,” and people are rightfully pissed.
.@TheRexlChxndler wanted us to stick to pancakes. Well, this one's for you, Chandler… pic.twitter.com/ALanNzGAJM
— IHOP (@IHOP) June 3, 2019
IHOP, stop trying to make “pancakes” happen.
They’re not going to happen, and there are actually more pressing pancake matters to address.
Last year, the Internet told us to stick to pancakes. Well, ta-daa! #IHOP https://t.co/w8LYDqISw0 pic.twitter.com/rifYGLoMov
— IHOP (@IHOP) June 4, 2019
Pancakes have been pancakes for hundreds of years.
And despite the whole moldy pancake mix issue, IHOP can’t change that fact with one simple marketing ploy!
Died (alas!) on this day in 1575, in Amsterdam, the great Pieter Aertsen. His greatest works were made in Antwerp, though! Like his Pancake Bakers, 1560. Waffles also involved. pic.twitter.com/cClgfnmY11
— Dr. Peter Paul Rubens (@PP_Rubens) June 4, 2019
Ahem. Anyway… Don’t let this warning scare you out of making pancakes this weekend. Simply check the date and be on your way.
Because no one should be deprived of pancakes, especially a pancake overload.
Pancake Overload. pic.twitter.com/CkFtkmd5oQ
— ITS FOOD VISUAL (@itsfoodvisual) June 3, 2019
Be smart, don’t eat expired pancake mix, and enjoy your Saturday morning. Okay? Okay.
Not today, moldy pancake mix. Not today.