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Which moldy foods are safe to eat and which should be thrown away
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- A survey in Germany found that nearly one in three people cut mold off food instead of discarding it, despite the risk that mycotoxins produced by some molds are not removed by cutting or destroyed by cooking.
- Experts advise that the safety of moldy food depends on the type of food; firm fruits like apples may be salvageable by cutting away moldy parts, while soft or water-rich produce like lettuce and berries with mold should be discarded.
- Bread with mold should be thrown out entirely since mold can penetrate the loaf, and moldy jams or jellies are also unsafe to consume.
- Mycotoxins can be invisible and are not destroyed by heat, so relying solely on visible mold to judge food safety is insufficient; however, accidental ingestion of small amounts of mold is generally not cause for alarm.
- Proper food safety practices such as refrigeration, buying only what will be used soon, hand washing, and preventing cross-contamination are crucial, especially for immunocompromised individuals and those with mold allergies.
