When should food with white mold be thrown away?

Strawberries, bananas, mushrooms… are some of the foods that from time to time surprise us with the appearance of brown spots and a greenish-white down. Before the vision, the questions are, do we cut the affected part and consume the rest? And do we throw away the affected piece or the entire tray?

The answers are not obvious. White mold is welcome on some varieties of cheese, for example. However, in other foods can harm health because they generate toxic metabolic products, mycotoxins.

mycotoxins can cause serious injury in liver, kidneys and immune system.

A single accidental exposure is usually without consequences, but if it is repeated, the toxins can damage DNA and produce cancerous mutations or malformations in the embryo, if it is a pregnant woman. Mycotoxins are not inactivated by cooking or freezing.

Food to be thrown away if moldy

The wet food must be removed at the slightest appearance of mold: soft fruits, fruit compotes, juices and vegetables. The more water a food contains, the faster mold spreads. A strawberry or a plum, for example, can be completely affected even if only a small spot is visible. This is also true for the dairy products: yogurt, fresh cheese, cut cheese and soft cheese. jams, jellies and preserves That present mold should also be thrown away (and before they spoil they should always be kept in the fridge). This is also valid for jams made at home.

Mold in cured cheeses

mold can be removed trimming a generous part around the affected area. Of course, only if the mold is on the surface and has not penetrated deeply. Grated hard cheese is hopeless, because you cannot know how far it has gone; you have to throw it away.

mold on bread

Moldy bread should be thrown away whole. Even if only the surface or a slice is affected, the bread as a whole will be penetrated by threads of mold not visible.

mold on nuts

Nuts are another case in themselves. Pistachios, peanuts and hazelnuts, but also dried fruits such as figs and spices such as paprika and pepper can be affected by mold.

Nut mold releases toxic aflatoxins. They are products of the metabolism (mycotoxins) of certain varieties of mold that develop mainly in tropical climates. They appear especially in seeds and nuts rich in fats and starches, when they have been stored in conditions of excessive humidity.

Aflatoxins damage cells and can cause liver cancer. If you see the slightest sign of mold on nuts they must be removed immediately.

How to prevent mold

It is important not to store food for too long to avoid mold growth. Plant foods are stored an average of 4-5 days in the fridge and the dry ones can be kept for weeks in dry, clean, cool and dark places.

The bread must be kept dry, well ventilated and in an environment that is not too hot, in a clean, unglazed clay bread bin with ventilation holes.

Contaminated biological remains must be taken without delay to biological containers or to the compost heap. Don’t keep them at home.