JAKARTA - Have you ever found food in the kitchen that suddenly develops white, green, or blue spots? Many people think they can simply throw away the moldy part and eat the rest. The question is, is the food still edible if the moldy part is thrown away? Or is it better to throw it straight in the trash?
Unfortunately, there are no clear official rules regarding which foods are safe and which are dangerous if moldy. Many people have different opinions. However, experts warn that consuming moldy food can have serious health impacts, beyond just a stomach ache.
According to Dr. Brad Reisfeld, a professor of toxicology, mold not only grows on the surface of food but can spread deep into unseen areas. Some types of mold produce dangerous toxins that can damage organs and increase the risk of cancer.
Here are four foods that should be thrown away immediately, as reported by DailyMailUK.
1. Meat
Meat is the riskiest food. If it has passed its shelf life or shows signs of spoilage, it should be thrown away immediately. The main problem with meat is not mold, but rather bacteria, which can grow rapidly.
Rotten meat is usually characterized by a slimy texture and a greenish or brownish discoloration.
The danger is that bacteria in meat don't always produce an odor, making it difficult to detect by smell alone. Some dangerous bacteria that can be found in spoiled meat include:
- E. coli causes severe diarrhea and can potentially damage the kidneys.
- Campylobacter jejuni (in chicken) causes fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Salmonella (in chicken and eggs) causes colitis, vomiting, and fever.
- Clostridium botulinum (in unsafe canned meat) produces botulinum toxin, one of the most deadly toxins.
If meat looks or tastes suspicious, even slightly, don't take any chances. It's best to throw it away immediately.
2. Fruit
Fruit that is bruised, too soft, or stored in damp places is very susceptible to mold growth. Mold on fruit can produce mycotoxins, toxins that cause digestive problems and damage organs, including the liver, kidneys, and immune system.
One common mold found on apples, pears, and thin-skinned fruits is Penicillium expansum, which produces the toxin patulin. This toxin can damage DNA and disrupt cell function. In high concentrations, patulin can potentially cause organ damage.
Soft fruits, such as strawberries, peaches, grapes, and tomatoes, should be discarded immediately if they develop mold, as the fungus can spread rapidly through the fruit.
Harder fruit may still be salvageable by cutting away the moldy area, but this must be done with extreme caution.
3. Grains, Nuts, and Bread
Bread is a food often thought to be salvageable by cutting away the moldy area, but this is a misconception. The hollow structure of bread allows mold to easily spread throughout the entire fruit, even if it is not visible on the outside.
Aspergillus mold, which often grows on bread, nuts, and grains, can produce aflatoxin, a dangerous toxin that can damage liver cells and increase the risk of liver cancer.
There is no safe limit for aflatoxin consumption; even small amounts are dangerous. If bread, nuts, or wheat appears discolored, smells unusual, or even has the slightest hint of mold, it's best to throw it away.
4. Cheese
Not all mold on cheese is harmful, as some types of cheese use special molds as part of the manufacturing process, such as Roquefort, Brie, or Camembert.
However, this is different from wild mold, which grows accidentally. Soft cheeses like cream cheese, cottage cheese, and ricotta should be thrown away immediately if mold is found, as their moist structure makes it easy for mold to spread.
Hard cheeses like cheddar or parmesan can still be saved by cutting off at least 2–3 cm of mold, but make sure the knife doesn't touch the mold itself to avoid spreading spores.
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