What if i accidentally eat mold

Become an Insider. Facebook Pinterest Twitter Youtube Instagram. C hoosing a healthy loaf of bread —like those deliciously seedy sprouted options—is always a great idea: they're loaded with better-for-you ingredients that up your daily protein intake and help you cut down on sugar.

The only problem? So BIG yikes, is eating moldy bread a worthy offense? Related Stories. Experts Referenced. Emilie Raffa. Author, Artisan Sourdough Made Simple. Registered Dietitian. Tags: Food and Nutrition. Our editors independently select these products. Loading More Posts That said, this stuff is definitely not good for you, and if you're allergic to mold, it can bring on uncomfortable symptoms including irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

What's more, although common bread mold isn't especially harmful, there are some dangerous molds out there which can be detrimental to your health.

In fact, a few of them can produce poisonous substances known as mycotoxins, the nastiest of which aflatoxin can cause cancer according to the USDA. That said, contamination tends to occur farther up the chain than your kitchen, primarily appearing in grain and nut crops, so your regular household mold probably isn't aflatoxin-related.

Although it might be tempting to simply tear off the moldy bits in the interest of not wasting food or money , there's no guarantee you're actually removing the whole fungal infection by doing so. Mold's thread-like roots can reach deep into the food in question, so simply removing the obviously nasty parts won't do.

Better to err on the side of cutting off too much than too little -- or better yet, just toss the whole thing out. To clear things up, the USDA has a food-handling chart outlining which foods can safely be pruned, and which should just be discarded. Mold develops on food when the conditions are right. This bad mold grows on a wide variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables; bread; lunch meat; jams and jellies; sauces and condiments; and dairy products such as yogurt and cheese.

These spores are airborne and circulate in the environment, looking for a hospitable landing place. Once spores find a suitable food host, they start to grow.

They can also cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. Craggs-Dino adds that some molds can also create a dangerous substance called toxins — including aflatoxins, which can be especially poisonous.

They can actually cause death. Although cutting off the mold seems like an easy solution, other harmful substances could still be left behind.

The potential for hidden bacteria is why adjacent mold can also be harmful. Say you have a container of strawberries where a few have turned moldy, but the others look fine.

Moldy foods that are salvageable include those with lower moisture content: hard cheeses with a hard rind like cheddar and Swiss , or hard vegetables such as cabbage, bell peppers and carrots. The safety of certain other foods is situation-dependent. Think about a banana with mold on the outside of the peel. To minimize mold growth, the USDA recommends cleaning the inside of your fridge every few months.