Bella Adams
Mold is a multitude of interrelated fungi that grow and multiply in moist and warm environments. Most often, our products are affected by fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Botrytis. However, not all fungi are harmful; it is known that the mold of the genus Penicillium notatum produces the antibiotic penicillin, which has become a real salvation for humanity. However, most fungi secrete mycotoxins, which cause diseases.
What happens if you eat a product with mold
There are several scenarios:
- If you accidentally eat a little bit of spoiled food, you probably won’t notice anything strange or unusual. The fungi will simply digest, and what’s left of them will come out naturally.
- If you have eaten a large enough amount of spoiled food, mycotoxins could get into your body, and this is very dangerous. First, the liver can be affected, because it is responsible for the elimination of toxins and other harmful substances. Secondly, if aflatoxins, which are the most dangerous mycotoxins, get into the body, a disease called aflatoxicosis can develop. In most cases, it manifests itself as food poisoning and is easily tolerated by adults. However, if a large amount of aflatoxins gets into a child’s body in a short period of time, it can even lead to death.
- Thirdly, some toxins released by fungi can accumulate in the human body, cause cell mutation and provoke the development of cancer.
- Mold can cause allergies. And if a large amount of it enters the body, the allergic reaction can be severe.
- If, when eating food with mold, it gets into the lungs (and this is possible), then, once in favorable conditions (there is oxygen in the lungs, as well as high humidity), fungi can begin to multiply actively. And such reproduction can lead to the development of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or bronchial asthma.
How to save food from mold
Scientists have long confirmed that mold can continue to live in the refrigerator and even the freezer. In addition, it is able to survive in salty, sweet, and acidic environments. For those who are faced with mold and don’t know what to do, the US Food and Drug Administration has drawn up general guidelines for responding to the problem:
Moldy foods to get rid of:
- Meat, bacon, and sausages.
- Yogurt, sour cream, and soft cheese.
- Soft fruits and vegetables.
- Bread and bakery products.
- Peanut butter, nuts, and beans.
- Jams and jellies.
Moldy foods that can be preserved by removing the moldy area:
- Hard salami. Clean the mold off the surface.
- Hard cheeses. Trim at least 2.5 cm around the infected area. Do not let the knife touch the mold and wrap the cheese in new packaging (cling film).
- Hard fruits and vegetables. Small areas of mold can be cut off.
