What Happens If We Eat Moldy Fruit
Most of us dont intentionally eat moldy produce, but it can happen without realizing.
If you accidentally eat a piece of fruit with mold, nothing is going to happen, Gravely told HuffPost. Dont worry about it. Most people wont get sick from eating moldy foods. Of course, some people are more sensitive than others. If you develop symptoms or if you became ill, for most people, any illness at all would be temporary. But if you develop nausea that lasts more than a day, see a doctor. But for most, any gastrointestinal upset would be transient.
This Is What Eating Moldy Fruit Does To Your Body
Summer is here, and that means were all probably going to be eating a lot more fresh fruit as so many beloved options come into season. Were talking strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, as well as peaches, plums and blackberries. But all this fresh produce also means that were going to be coming across a lot more moldy fruit.
As fruit starts to go bad, mold is almost inevitable. But before you start throwing everything out at the first sign of a little mold, hold tight.
We talked to Marianne H. Gravely, senior technical information specialist on the food safety education staff at the USDA, and asked about the dangers of eating moldy produce .
Is It Safe To Eat Mold On Bread
Speaking in a small amount, the mold is harmless. The most common effect that can be caused by mold on bread is nausea and vomiting. However, some people might be allergic to mold.
If you are allergic to it, the effect can be more severe as it can be poisonous to your body. This is why you should avoid eating bread with mold on it.
Sometimes, wasting a box of bread might feel wrong. Yet, cutting the mold off the bread would not do you any favor. Once you see the mold spots on the outside, it is likely to have grown on the inside, too.
Some people think that putting the bread in a microwave would solve the mold problem. Still, microwave cannot kill the mold. You might instead release more mold spores, and it can affect the other foods in your kitchen.
So, the only way to get rid of it is to throw away the affected bread and clean the bread box, container, refrigerator, or cupboard where you stored it.
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Knowing More About Mold That Grows On Bread
If you have experienced mold on bread many times before, you might have noticed that it has a different color each time. In fact, the color difference is determined by the taxonomical structure of the mold.
At least, there are three mold types that are often found on bread. Based on its colors, below are the most common ones:
You may have experienced black mold on bread. It comes from the species Rhizopus stolonifer, and it is one of the most common molds on bread. This species of mold can also grow on fruits which cause the fruits to rot.
Among other mold species, black mold has the fastest growth. Black mold lives by dissolving the bread and absorb the nutrition. Furthermore, it can cause infections on a human.
Neurospora crassa is red mold that typically grows on bread. It has a pinkish red color, and it grows easily on the right media such as bread. However, it has been used in numerous experiments relating to circadian rhythms, epigenetics, gene silencing, and cell fusion.
It is sometimes called as model fungi because it has a full life cycle and consists of both fungi and yeast.
Penicillium might be the most common mold on bread. It has a blue-green or gray appearance with white borders. It grows in patches and dissolves the bread to grow. This species of mold grows easily at a low temperature with low light.
Is There Any Type Of Coffee That Is Good For You
While this information may seem a bit concerning, there are high-quality coffee beans on the market that are free of these toxins, you just have to know what to look out for!
Always ensure you are choosing a coffee with a high-quality bean, that is sourced sustainably, while processed and tested rigorously to show no trace of mold or mycotoxins like Ochratoxin A.
In fact, we are so passionate about high-quality coffee, we decided to take matters into our own hands by creating our very own toxin-free roast: Clean Coffee.
Knowing the serious health effects that mold and mycotoxins can have on overall health, we take careful steps to ensure that our coffee is free of these toxins. This process begins with sourcing the top 1% of superior grade beans handpicked from sustainable, direct-trade coffee plantations.
Once we harvest the highest quality beans , we take the beans to the testing phase. Our testing process means business and we dont take it lightly! We ensure it meets the SCAA Green Coffee Grading Standards, which is a standard of brewing that confirms the beans are free of fungus, insect damage, and other toxins without sacrificing flavor.
Additionally, we ensure every batch of our coffee beans is below the threshold of 20 ppm mold and yeast before roasting in our smokeless machine, which is optimized for antioxidant preservation and taste! The result? One healthy and delicious cup of coffee you can feel good about!
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Wait Can’t I Just Cut The Mold Off Of My Food
If you’re not too skeeved out by that patch of mold on your eats, you might be tempted to just cut it off and continue eating, but whether or not this is actually a good idea depends on the food.
Though we only see their fuzzy discolored tops, all molds have roots that invade foods, according to the USDA. Since these roots allow toxins to spread throughout the inside of your food, your best move is to throw out the moldy food in its entirety, regardless of where you see the moldy patch, Dr. Bedford says.
Still, mold can’t penetrate certain hard cheeses, hard salami, firm fruits, and vegetables as easily as softer foods, the USDA says. That makes these foods easier to save from a fuzzy patch. Just make sure to cut off at least an inch around and below the moldy spot, keep your knife out of the mold, and wrap the good part of the food in a new covering.
For quick reference, these food are generally okay to eat once you cut off any mold:
- Hard cheeses
- Meat
- Bread
Also, FYI, toasting your bread will not kill the mold on it, so don’t even go there. Since bread is super porous, it’s definitely one to chuck at the first sign of fuzz, says the USDA.
Foods You Should Discard
If you find mold on these items, discard them :
- Soft fruits and vegetables: Such as strawberries, cucumbers and tomatoes.
- Soft cheese: Like cottage and cream cheese, as well as shredded, crumbled and sliced cheese. This also includes cheese that is made with mold but has been invaded by another mold that was not part of the manufacturing process.
- Bread and baked goods: Mold can easily grow below the surface.
- Cooked food: Includes casseroles, meat, pasta and grains.
- Jam and jellies: If these products are moldy, they may contain mycotoxins.
- Peanut butter, legumes and nuts: Products processed without preservatives are at a higher risk of mold growth.
- Deli meats, bacon, hot dogs
- Yogurt and sour cream
Summary:Soft food with a high moisture content is generally more likely to have mold. You can cut mold off of hard or firm food.
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Mold And Mycotoxins The Reason Why Coffee Is Bad For You
Mold is a fungus commonly found in a variety of food such as corn, rice, fruits, vegetables, and you guessed it, coffee. In small, infrequent amounts, there is not a large cause for concern, but consistent mold consumption can suppress the immune system and lead to some troubling health problems. Unlike some foods, when it comes to coffee, mold contamination can be extremely difficult to identify.
Where mold can be harmful to health, mycotoxins are the major toxic culprit. They are dangerous compounds produced from mold that essentially poison the body, resulting in neurotoxicity which can, in some cases, be fatal. The sickness and specific negative side effects associated with mycotoxin exposure is called mycotoxicosis.
Although there are four main types of mycotoxins found in food and the air, Ochratoxin A , is the biggest cause for concern in coffee beans. Ochratoxin A causes oxidative stress in the body, which impairs mitochondrial function, and disrupts protein synthesis. This can lead to a number of troubling symptoms like memory problems, brain fog, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, night sweats, dizziness, and even hair loss.
Some of the first signs of mold exposure are fatigue, weakness, and sinus infections, so if youre experiencing any of these symptoms, do yourself a favor and upgrade to a high-quality coffee ASAP!
Types Of Mold The Good The Bad The Toxic
When it comes to mold, many people wonder what types are good and what types are bad. Mold Inspectors of Florida performs inspections of homes and test for this very answer. Many patrons ask for the detailed lab results, mostly concerned about toxic mold. But did you know that mold can be good for you as well?
The world of fungi comprises thousands of species of yeasts and molds. With so much still to learn about their potential, what we do know is not all of these species are toxic. Our goal today is to educate you as a home or building owner to know the types of molds, and danger signs to look for. And finally, we will advise on when to bring in a professional and licensed mold inspector, such as MIOFL.
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Actions You Can Take To Reduce Mould
The most important actions you can take to prevent mould in your home are those that minimise moisture.
- Fix leaky plumbing and roofs and other building faults
- Ensure gutters are cleared and maintained
- Reduce condensation by using exhaust fans, or open windows in the bathroom and kitchen when showering, cooking or using the dishwasher
- Wipe up excess water caused by condensation such as on single glazed windows and on shower glazing
- Air the home regularly by opening windows and doors on warmer days
- Vent clothes dryers to the outside and clean lint filters according to the manufacturers instructions.
Refer to information about cleaning up mould: refer to the information on the Better Health Channel website.
Which Foods Can Be Contaminated With Mold
Mold can grow on almost all foods.
That said, some types of food are more prone to mold growth than others.
Fresh food with a high water content is particularly vulnerable. On the other hand, preservatives decrease the likelihood of mold growth, as well as the growth of microorganisms .
Mold does not only grow in your food at home. It can grow during the food production process too, including throughout growing, harvesting, storage or processing (
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How Do Molds Affect People
Exposure to damp and moldy environments may cause a variety of health effects, or none at all. Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can lead to symptoms such as stuffy nose, wheezing, and red or itchy eyes, or skin. Some people, such as those with allergies to molds or with asthma, may have more intense reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.
In 2004 the Institute of Medicine found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people with asthma symptoms in people with asthma and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition.
In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould pdf iconexternal icon pdf icon. Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies.
What To Do If You Suspect Your Home Has Toxic Mold
Because toxic mold exposure can be a serious health threat, its important that you get professional help if you think you might have dangerous mold in your home. The first step is to have your home professionally tested for mold. This should involve a thorough inspection for any water damage or mold growth found on materials in your home, as well as an air quality test to check for airborne spores. This entire process typically takes an hour or less to perform.
Next, samples will be sent to an environmental testing laboratory to determine if there are harmful species of mold in your home. If needed, you can then call in a mold remediation company to remove the toxic mold in your home and get to the bottom of any remaining sources of water damage.
Once the mold has been remediated, a clearance air test can be performed to ensure that the mold levels in your home are safe.
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White Mold On Carpets
As most of us know, wet carpets are very difficult to dry, especially when were talking not just about a small spill, but a large leak or flood. This is when bacteria and mold have the opportunity to thrive. It is important to avoid carpeting your home below ground level or in rooms that are prone to spills, high humidity, and flooding . Luckily, moldy carpets are fairly easy to recognize as they will give off a strong musty odor and cause allergic reactions. Try to clean and dry wet carpets promptly in order to avoid mold spreading to the subfloor. If this happens, you will likely have to remove and replace your entire flooring system.
Could Your Symptoms Be From A General Mold Allergy
Regardless of the species of mold in question, symptoms of a mold allergy can appear very similar, especially when looking at many individuals. So if you see black-colored mold and experience allergic symptoms, it could be Stachybotrys, or it could be another species of mold. That said, the same person can react differently to different molds. For example, one person may have severe dry eyes in response to a Cladosporium exposure, while Aspergillus exposure may cause wheezing and asthma-like symptoms.
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What Are Mycotoxins
First, lets find out what exactly are mycotoxins. These chemicals are formed by molds, the tiny fungi that could grow on crops that are not stored properly, including coffee beans.
When you end up ingesting too much of these toxins, they could cause poisoning. Mycotoxins have been linked to a number of illnesses.
Mycotoxins are commonly found on food items. Unfortunately, coffee is the biggest source of mycotoxins found in food products. According to the World Health Organization,
Moulds that can produce mycotoxins grow on numerous foodstuffs such as cereals, dried fruits, nuts, and spices. Mould growth can occur either before harvest or after harvest, during storage, on/in the food itself often under warm, damp and humid conditions. Most mycotoxins are chemically stable and survive food processing.
There are hundred different kinds of mycotoxins, but the ones that came from the coffee beans are the aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A. Both have been tied to a number of serious illnesses.
Exposure to these toxic chemicals could happen directly by ingesting the infected food products or eating meat from animals that were fed with contaminated feeds.
How To Spot Mold
Using a black light and a 10x magnifying lens is the most surefire way to check your bud for fungus, but there is no replacement for careful observation with the naked eye.
Some tell-tale signs of mold:
- Brown, grey, yellow or white “fuzz”
- Black, grey, or white spider web-like strands
- Musty/Urine smell
- Dark spots or obvious spores
If you can see obvious spores on your weed it is beyond the safe, “normal” levels of contamination having little effect on people with normal immune systems. And if youre smoking marijuana to treat your asthma you are especially at risk.
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What Is Green Mold
Green mold is an umbrella term that refers to different species of fungi that grow in shades of green. It appears soft and fuzzy or powdery and can have different hues of green. You may have seen green mold on fruits, bread, and many other foods. However, green mold can also grow in wet areas of a home.
Although many species of mold can grow green, the most common are Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium.
- Cladosporium is olive green and thrives on plants in particular, but can also grow on household surfaces like walls, cabinets, and carpets.
- Aspergillus is the mold that typically grows on spoiled food like bread. It can also grow on nutrient-poor but moisture-rich environments like the basement.
- Penicillium is famous for its antibacterial properties and is usually bluish-green. However, it can also emit mycotoxins that are toxic to both people and pets. Penicillium prefers colder environments like soil, but some also form on wet items in the home.
However, these molds can grow in other colors as well, such as blue or black. Thus, testing is the only way to find out which type of mold it is. Thats not to say that you should always test the mold in your home to determine whether its harmful.
