Drank 'Just One Sip' of Beverage and Died... Mold Was Growing in the Airway

Danish Man in His 60s Dies After Drinking Coconut Water
Developed Metabolic Encephalopathy from Mold Toxin Infection

A man in his 60s in Denmark died within hours after unknowingly drinking spoiled coconut water.

A man died after buying prepared coconut, leaving it unrefrigerated for a month, and then drinking the coconut water. Getty Images

On the 3rd (local time), the British Daily Mail reported the story of a 69-year-old man, Mr. A, from Aarhus, Denmark. About a month ago, he bought a prepared coconut and left it on the kitchen table without refrigerating it. Later, the man took a small sip of the coconut water using a straw but ended up drinking it because the taste was strange.

When Mr. A opened the coconut, the inside was sticky. He told his wife, "I think the coconut has gone bad," and threw it in the trash. Just three hours later, Mr. A began experiencing symptoms such as sweating, nausea, and vomiting. Paramedics who arrived at his home found that he was confused, unable to maintain balance, and that his skin was pale and clammy.

An MRI scan at the hospital revealed severe swelling in Mr. A’s brain, but the medical staff still could not determine the cause of this reaction. Despite receiving intensive treatment for metabolic encephalopathy (a condition where brain function is impaired due to metabolic problems), he was declared brain dead 26 hours after arriving at the hospital, and life support was withdrawn.

The coconut was sticky, and after saying "It seems spoiled," it was discarded. However, about three hours later, Mr. A began to experience symptoms such as sweating, nausea, and vomiting. Getty Images

An autopsy revealed mold growing in Mr. A’s airway. Initially, medical staff mistook it for the toxin bongkrekic acid. However, according to a case report in the journal "Emerging Infectious Diseases," further analysis of the coconut identified a fungus called Arthrinium saccharicola that caused inflammation. This mold species produces 3-nitropropionic acid, a toxic compound that causes severe brain damage.

In 1991, cases of adult poisoning by this toxin were reported in parts of China and Africa, caused by moldy sugarcane. Victims experienced symptoms similar to those of Mr. A, such as vomiting and diarrhea, before developing encephalopathy, and some ultimately died. To date, there is no antidote for this toxin, and treatment focuses on supportive care to manage symptoms and potential complications such as meningitis or severe brain edema.

Food safety experts advise that prepared coconuts should be stored in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. Additionally, coconut water spoils easily and should be consumed within a few days.

Regarding this case, Dr. Samuel Chowdhury from Singapore, who has 326,000 followers, said, "These commercially sold coconuts are already partially peeled, so always keep them refrigerated," adding, "Only whole, unprocessed coconuts can be stored at room temperature." He shared a photo of moldy coconut, saying, "This is why coconuts must be stored properly," and warned, "Even a single sip of coconut water can cause fatal food poisoning."