Eating mold sounds pretty scary, but chances are you've probably done it once or twice without realizing it.
When you clean out your refrigerator, you're throwing away the obvious: the old stuff covered in something that's green, gray, or hazy, and almost always dirty. But what if youRealwants to eat the rest of itost? Or worse, what if you miss it and accidentally eat mold?
Before you have a complete meltdown, it can be helpful to know what exactly mold is. So here's a quick scientific summary.
Molds are microscopic fungi that can grow on plants or animal materialsU.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service(USDA). It can be transported by air, water and insects and grows in a thread-like form with branches and roots. These roots can penetrate food deeply through tiny reproductive cells called spores, which give fungi their all-too-familiar green or white color and fuzzy texture.
Is mold dangerous?
Yes and no. While some types of mold have no effect on your health at all, others can cause allergic reactions and respiratory infections. The latter is typically the case with "black mold", which is more common in wet building materials than in food (thankfully!).
Other forms of mold can produce toxins that can make you sick. These invisible molecules, known as mycotoxins, are most commonly found on grains and fresh produce and are considered relatively unavoidable by the USDA. Mold can also be found in the air, in our refrigerators, on countertops and on the sponges we use to clean, according toCarla Gervasio, acupuncturist, herbalist and practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine.
On the other hand, certain foods are naturally moldyrequiremold to grow properly. The introduction of blue mold cheeses such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola and Stilton emergedP. RoquefortofRoquefort-borstelspecifically spores that are safe to eat and essential for making these specific types of cheeses.
Is it safe to eat moldy food?
Raise your hand if you're tempted to just chop the moldy spot off your food and move on. The same. But because mold grows in filamentous forms with roots that can reach through the entire item, yours will toosafestthe bet is just to throw it away.
If you can't bear to part with that entire block of cheddar, there's good news: some foods, likefruit and vegetables(think carrots and cabbage) and hard cheeses and salami can be saved by cutting off "at least 1 inch around and below the mold spot," according to the USDA. Make sure to keep the blade out of the mold so the yuck doesn't spread.
Softer foods (such as bread) and foods with a higher moisture content (such as yogurt and foods from jars or cans) should definitely be thrown out if you notice thateveryonemold, because the mold can penetrate deeper into these objects more easily than with harder foods.
The same goes for meat and poultry. Uncooked meat and poultry have a high moisture content, which makes it easy for mold to spread. Cooked or leftover meat and poultry can also contain bacteria that grow with the mold — bacteria that, unlike the mold, are invisible, according to the USDA. So it is best to throw these items away immediately.
What happens if you accidentally eat mold?
Do not panic. Chances are you're clear about it, but remember that mold is a tricky organism to deal withpossibility of causing disease. Your body's response to mold is almost entirely dependent on your immune system, saysMarina Yuabova, DNP, FNP, a family practice nurse in New York City.
"Whenimmune systemfunctions properly and healthy intestinal flora is abundant, fungi will not have any negative impact on the health and well-being of the individual,” says Yuabova. “In people with weak immune systems, ingested mold spores can cause more serious problems. When fungal invasion becomes systemic, the fungus can invade the digestive tract, upper respiratory tract, and brain. These cases are becoming more and more serious.'
If you know you have a weak immune system (perhaps due to a chronic condition) or have a history of asthma or allergies, it's a good idea to call your doctor and seek treatment if necessary.
Either way, you should definitely watch for side effect symptoms that can mimic those of food poisoning (for example: nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, headache, and dizziness), saysLisa Richards, a certified nutritionist and creator of the Candida Diet, which focuses on restoring the balance of healthy gut bacteria in the body.
If you accidentally ingest mold, you usually ignore the symptoms, Richards says. “But if you notice gastrointestinal symptoms, it's a good idea to add a probiotic to your health regimen and eat a fairly bland diet to help restore the healthy bacteria in your gut,” she says.
How can you prevent food from becoming moldy?
Two words: good storage.
Mold loves moisture and warmth, but can grow in almost any environment. It can also withstand colder temperatures, so refrigerated goods are just as fragile as goods kept at room temperature. When the spores dry, "they float through the air and find suitable conditions in which to restart the growth cycle," according to the USDA. To prevent this, the USDA recommends keeping food covered when served, refrigerating easily perishable items immediately, and avoiding leaving food out for more than two hours and keeping both the refrigerator and the pantry beautiful.
When grocery shopping, make sure you examine your food before purchasing and avoid battered produce. Although bruised fruit does not always mean it is moldy, bruising is a breakdown of the fruit's cellular composition and indicates some form of damage that allows mold to grow. It's also helpful to buy food in smaller quantities so you're more likely to eat it before something grows and you're forced to throw away leftovers.
It comes down to? Mold is ever-present in our world and can even be beneficial to some foods (hello blue cheese!), and if you accidentally eat mold, you'll probably be just fine. But if in doubt, be safe and just throw the food away.
