SC - What Ergot eats

[Mordonna22@aol.com]

> << The recipes I have seen seem to me to be a sure breeding ground for
> ergot
>  or one of it's cousins.
>  
>  Mordonna DuBois >>
> 
> It is my understanding that ergot is a fungus that lives on alive plants.
> I
> doubt very much it's ability to live and breed on already harvested grain.
> Also I thought that ergot was a pest of wheat and rye?
> 
> Ras
> 
Ergot is a fungal disease which, according to some sources, can attack all
cereal grains, although the primary cereal it attacks is rye.  It produces a
sweet liquid which attracts insects who then spread the fungus.

Ergotism occurs when diseased kernels are milled or used by humans.  The
toxins produced by the fungus do not break down in cooking and when ingested
by humans produce a variety of symptoms from a mild over-heated feeling to a
feverish burning and gangrene depending on the quantity of toxin ingested.

One of these days, I need to see if the FDA or the CDC has information sheet
on ergot, so I can check my meager knowledge with that of the experts.

Bear
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