Here's What Actually Happens If You Eat Mold
I ate moldy bread. Well, not me personally (though I may have done so by accident before). However, you may have. Now what? Understanding what happens when you eat mold—even a little bit—is vital for monitoring your overall health.
"While some people may not experience any ill effects from eating moldy food, others can suffer from a range of uncomfortable and potentially serious health symptoms," Robert Weitz, CMI, a certified microbial investigator and the principal of RTK Environmental, a mold and environmental testing firm. "If you know you are allergic to mold in the air, you’ll likely have some sort of reaction."
However, knowing precisely what happens if you eat mold depends on the variety, so to speak. "Not all molds are created equal," Weitz says.
In other words, some present more of a health risk than others. Can you tell which is which? It's complicated. Experts dug into the (sometimes unappealing details) of what happens if you consume mold.
Related: Wait—What Happens If You Eat Expired Food?
What Is Mold?
"Mold is a type of fungus that grows in warm, damp conditions," says Dr. Brynna Connor, MD, a healthcare ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com. "It reproduces by releasing tiny spores that spread easily through the air."
Mold exposure is natural and unavoidable. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stresses that you'll likely find mold in any spot with moisture and oxygen, including soil, plants and food. Though natural, the EPA stresses indoor mold should be avoided.
What Does Mold Look Like?
It depends. "There are over 100,000 types of mold, ranging from toxic black mold to pink slime mold," Weitz says.
Dr. Connor says mold colors include:
White
Gray
Black
Green
Blue
Yellow
Fuzzy
Powdery
Slimy
"In bread, mold typically grows in green and/or black spots on the surface, often with a fuzzy texture," Dr. Connor explains. "Sometimes, mold can also grow inside the bread, making it appear soft and spongy. Mold can look different depending on the food. It might appear as a fuzzy growth on cheese, slimy spots on fruit or dark patches on meat."
How Does Mold Grow On Food?
Specific storage environments—even if best practices—are ripe for mold.
"Mold spores are everywhere, and when spores land on food in a dark, warm and/or moist environment, they start to grow and reproduce," says Jessica Gavin, a certified culinary scientist. "Environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, in combination with the type of food, all play a role in how quickly mold develops."
Weitz shared a more specific step-by-step of how mold develops:
A mold spore lands on the food.
If the condition is right, the spore begins germinating, growing and forming tiny filaments called hyphae.
The hyphae spread, creating a network in the food (colonization)
The mold keeps producing spores that can spread to other food items
Visible mold will take a fuzzy appearance — a group of hyphae and spores
Which Types Of Mold Are Harmful?
Molds with mycotoxins, or toxic substances, are the most harmful. "They can cause severe illness if ingested in large doses or over time," Gavin says.
Gavin says these include:
Aflatoxins from Aspergillus (corn, peanuts and tree), which can raise risks for liver cancer and immune system issues
Ochratoxin A (grains, coffee and grapes) can damage kidneys.
Patulin from Penicillium, Byssochylamys, and Aspergillus (cheese, grains and apples) can cause nausea and vomiting.
Wait, does that mean cheese is dangerous? No, not necessarily. Harmful mold is a result of spoilage. However, mold involved in making cheese—like Penicillium roqueforti for blue cheese—is well-tolerated by most people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
What Happens if You Eat Mold?
It depends. "Not all molds will make you sick, but some can cause allergic reactions, respiratory problems and food-borne illnesses due to mycotoxins," Gavin says. "The severity of symptoms depends on your health, the amount of mold consumed and the type of mold."
As such, symptoms that you ate mold (and that it's not going well for your digestive system) can run the gamut. "Some molds can cause nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea and indigestion, while others can lead to more serious issues like liver damage and immune system problems," Gavin says.
How Much Mold On Food Makes You Sick?
Small amounts of accidentally consumed mold won't cause serious harm (but perhaps will cause a stomachache). That said, it's best to avoid eating mold unless it's the type used in manufacturing cheese.
"If someone eats a large amount of mold or moldy food, it could trigger severe health problems, like allergic reactions, respiratory problems, digestive issues, or liver damage in particularly severe cases, especially if the mold contains harmful mycotoxins," Dr. Connor says.
However, people with mold allergies may have significantly lower thresholds.
Can You Cut Around Mold On Food?
It's not the best practice. "As the mold continues to grow, it can penetrate deeper into the food, even if you remove the visible part," Weitz says. "Even if you remove the moldy part of the food, you are likely still eating the roots of mold."
The USDA offers an easy-to-digest guide for handling mold on food, including how much to cut (1 inch off some cheeses not made with mold) and when to discard (fruit, many meats and cheeses and cooked grains like pasta).
How to Prevent Mold On Food
While mold isn't 100% avoidable, you can often slow the process enough until you consume the food. The USDA's recommendations for preventing mold on food include:
Keeping food covered when serving to reduce exposure to airborne mold scores
Covering the foods you want to stay moist with plastic wrap, such as fresh produce
Quickly put perishable canned foods into clean containers for storing after opening
Avoid leaving perishable food outside of the fridge for 2+ hours
Eat leftovers within three to four days
When To See A Doctor About Eating Mold
Sometimes, people who eat mold will need medical attention.
"If you experience symptoms such as fever, nausea, diarrhea or trouble breathing," Gavin says, "It's crucial to contact a doctor right away."
These symptoms could be flags for a serious reaction to mold on food, and quick care can keep you safe.
Up Next:
Sources
Jessica Gavin, a certified food and culinary scientist
Dr. Brynna Connor, MD, a healthcare ambassador at NorthWestPharmacy.com
What Are Molds? EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Robert Weitz, CMI, a certified microbial investigator and the principal of RTK Environmental, a mold and environmental testing firm
Mycotoxins. World Health Organization.
Molds on Food: Are They Dangerous? USDA.
