We've all encountered moldy food before, whether it's a rogue berry covered in gray fuzz or a green-speckled slice of bread. Maybe you didn't notice the mold growing until you plated your meal — or after you took a bite. Aside from being grossed out, you may have concerns about the health effects...
What is mold?Molds are microscopic fungi, Josephine Wee, Ph. D. , an assistant professor of food science at Penn State University, tells TODAY...
Which types of mold are harmful?When it comes to molds, some types are more harmful than others. "There's the good, the bad and the ugly," aka toxic, says Wee. "Good" molds are used to produce certain cheeses, for example...
What happens if you eat mold? In most cases, nothing happens if you accidentally eat food with mold on it, the experts note. “When you ingest the mold, the acids in your stomach, as well as the digestive enzymes, will break the cells down," says Worobo. Healthy individuals generally won’t get ...
How much mold can make you sick?The amount of mold you consume matters, too. The average person likely won't get sick from ingesting small amounts of mold, the experts note. However, eating larger quantities of mold may result in some nausea or stomach upset...
Can you cut around moldy food?The mold you can see growing on food may penetrate much deeper than surface-level, the experts note. Think of the roots of a tree growing underground, says Wee. The body of mold consists of a thread-like root that invades the food, a stalk that rises above the food an...
When to see a doctor if you’ve eaten moldIf you've eaten moldy food and it's too late to spit it out, don't panic. Unless you are immunocompromised or eat very large quantities of mold, you will probably be OK. But watch for any symptoms, the experts note...
How to prevent mold on foodsThere are steps you can take to reduce your risk of exposure to mold spores and prevent mold from growing on foods, according to the experts and the USDA: Discard all food growing moldDo not sniff moldy food (to avoid inhaling spores)Clean any surfaces and containers mold...