What happens if you accidentally eat moldy food? (2024)

Some foods are meant to go moldy - and it's safe to eat them. For example, the taste and appearance of blue cheese come from...mouldrelated to the species used in its manufacturepenicillin. Mushrooms are fungi, which is technically a fungus.

However, you've probably had this experience: you're enjoying a juicy piece of fruit or a tasty sandwich - and then suddenly bite into a mold that shouldn't be there.

What happens if you accidentally eat moldy food? First, don't panic: you'll probably be fine. “Be aware of the fact that you ate it,” saysdietitian Lillian Craggs-Dino, DHA, RDN, LDN. 'And make sure you have no more complaints for the rest of the day. You'll probably be fine.'

But in certain cases, mold on spoiled food can be dangerous, so if you suddenly develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, elevated temperature or diarrhea, you should seek medical attention immediately. “Allergic reactions can be delayed — or they can occur immediately,” says Dr. Cragg's Dino. “It depends on what type of mold it was.”

Why food develops mold

Mold grows on food when conditions are right. “We're talking about transient molds that are airborne and can spread from the environment to food, or simply because of the age of the product or poor storage,” says Dr. Cragg's Dino.

This bad fungus grows on a wide variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables; Bread; lunch meat; jams and jellies; sauces and condiments; and dairy products such as yogurt and cheese. “A mold is a microscopic fungus,” says Dr. Cragg's Dino. “And so what we see growing on things like fruits, vegetables and jellies are the spores.”

These spores float in the air and circulate in the environment looking for a hospitable landing spot. When spores find a suitable food host, they begin to grow. Telltale signs of mold include white spots, unusually colored spots, or food that is softer than normal or smells bad.

But while it's tempting to scrape off the offending lint and eat the food anyway, that may not be the best course of action. At first glance you cannot tell whether a mold is safe or harmful. “You don't know which fungus you're actually eating,” says Dr. Cragg's Dino. “Some fungi can even be very poisonous to humans. They can also cause moldallergic reactionsand respiratory problems.”

Dr. Craggs-Dino adds that some molds can also create a dangerous substance called toxins, including aflatoxins, which can be particularly toxic. "They are extremely dangerous to a person's health. They can even cause death."

Can you just cut around the shape?

Although cutting off the mold seems like an easy solution, other harmful substances can remain behind. “The more moisture there is on the food, not only do you want mold, but you also want bacteria,” says Dr. Cragg's Dino. "You're not just eating fungi, you're eating bacteria." Bacteria can cause serious foodborne illnesses, such as:listeria, which commonly grows on lunch meats and cheeses, even in the refrigerator.

The potential for hidden bacteria is why adjacent mold can also be harmful. Suppose you have a container of strawberries, some of which are moldy, but the others look fine. Unfortunately, you can't throw away the fluffy one, wash the rest and nibble away.

“Fruit contains a lot of moisture and this mold can also harbor bacteria,” says Dr. Craggs Dino. "Discard the package, as the spores float in the air and most likely the entire package is contaminated, even if you can't see the faint growth of all the fruit."

In addition, she says that certain foods should definitely be thrown out if they are moldy, including:

• Soft fruits and vegetables, such as cucumbers, tomatoes and peaches.
• Lunch meat such as deli ham.
• Yoghurt.
• Jam and jelly.
• Restaurantrester.
• Peanut butter.

Moldy foods that can be stored include foods with lower moisture content: hard-rind cheeses (such as cheddar and Swiss) or hard vegetables such as cabbage, peppers and carrots. In either case, you should cut at least an inch around the moldy areas, because "you want to try to remove as many spores and contaminants as possible," says Dr. Cragg's Dino.

The safety of certain other foods is situational. Think of a banana with mold on the outside of the peel. "It's not actually on the fruit, so it doesn't seem to be very harmful because you're not eating the fungus," says Dr. Cragg's Dino. If bananas don't smell nice, or there is mold on the stem (which can easily penetrate the fruit), it is of course best to throw them away.

If you're not sure whether moldy food is safe to eat, Dr. Craggs-Dino to be careful: "When in doubt, throw it away."

How to keep food fresh (and mold-free)

Keep your refrigerator clean

No one likes cleaning the refrigerator, but it is an essential household chore. “If there's a little bit of food waste, mold grows and bacteria grows,” says Dr. Cragg's Dino. “Mold has spores that fly through the air, and then it can actually land on food and cause cross-contamination.”

To minimize mold growth,USDA recommendsClean the inside of your refrigerator every few months. First use a solution of 1 tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 liter of water and then clean with plain water before drying.

“If you have a really dirty refrigerator that has some visible mold, you can use 3 teaspoons of bleach in 1 quart of water,” says Dr. Cragg's Dino.Be sure to remove all food from the refrigerator before using bleach.

Store food properly

Hot and humid weather is an ideal breeding ground for mold, so don't leave food on the counter for too long. Dr. Craggs-Dino also emphasizes the importance of covering refrigerated foods with lids, foil or plastic wrap. “Mold is spread by airborne spores, so we need to keep food covered, even in the refrigerator,” she says. Also, don't underestimate the usefulness of the refrigerator's chip container, as it is calibrated to the specific relative humidity (80 to 95%) the refrigerator contains.fresh vegetables and fruits.

Make sure your refrigerator (and freezer) is kept at the right temperature

The refrigerator temperature is best set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less, while freezers should always be set to zero. Dr. Craggs-Dino also says not to rummage in the refrigerator. “Don't try to hold the door open,” she says. "If you're hanging around, open the door and think, 'Oh, what can I eat?', your refrigerator keeps getting warmer."

The bottom line is that it's impossible to tell in advance whether the moldy food you eat is safe, so be careful.

“The general consensus is that if you see visible mold on food, you shouldn't take the risk and throw it away,” advises Dr. Cragg's Dino. “You don't know what type of mold it is. Is it a type of mold that actually produces a toxin and can be extremely dangerous to your health? Or is it a mold that would cause an allergic reaction and perhaps respiratory problems? And what's involved the mold? Does it also contain bacteria? That's why it's best to just remove it."