Moldy food risk depends on type, not just appearance
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 31 Oct, 09:20 · Archive
Whether mouldy food is dangerous depends on what it is and what is growing on it, not just whether mould is visible.
Nearly one in three people cut mould off food before eating the rest, according to a survey by Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. However, this habit may not remove all toxins produced by certain moulds, which can be invisible in foods.
Fewer than half of survey respondents knew that cooking or baking does not destroy mycotoxins. More than a quarter thought heat could destroy them, and another quarter were unsure. The survey measured reported habits and knowledge rather than actual toxin levels or illness cases.
Brian Labus, an infectious disease epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Public Health, says the risk depends on the specific food. On firm fruits such as apples, mould may remain near the surface, so a person can cut around the affected area. The type of item matters: some foods should be discarded entirely when mouldy, whilst others are safer to salvage. Labus told Fox News Digital that people often confuse ordinary spoilage with germs that cause foodborne illness, noting that 'most of the stuff that we're talking about, especially with fruits and vegetables, it's not going to be something that's going to cause a foodborne illness'.
How it is being reported
- Moldy food isn’t always dangerous, expert says: ‘Spit it out and move on with your day’Nearly one in three people cut mold off food before eating the rest, a habit that may not remove all toxins.New York Post · 31 Oct, 09:11
- Moldy food isn't always dangerous, expert says: 'Spit it out and move on with your day'Professor Brian Labus, Ph.D., tells Fox News Digital why firmness matters when deciding whether to cut mold off food and which items like bread and berries should be tossed.Fox News · 30 Oct, 18:05
In this story: Brian Labus · University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Public Health · Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment · Germany
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