Throw out the whole loaf if you find mold growing on your bread.
More than 300,000 different species of mold fungi may exist, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fact sheet, and some of them probably exist somewhere in your pantry or refrigerator. While some molds are safe to eat, such as the molds used for producing some cheeses, many others are a danger to your health.
Food Mold Allergies
Some people are allergic to the molds themselves, and this allergy will cause an adverse reaction after the susceptible person eats the molded food. Symptoms of an allergic reaction due to mold consumption include: running or stuffy nose, watery eyes, a rash or hives and possible difficulty breathing. Examine your food carefully before you eat it if you have a mold allergy, and always throw out any food item that already has mold on it--even if you remove the visibly molded area, the roots of the mold may remain.
Upset Stomach
Mold itself doesn't cause food poisoning, because it's a fungus, not a bacteria. Molded food usually tastes and smells terrible, which may lead to vomiting if you consume it anyway. According to the food safety fact sheet found at the USDA website, food mold often grows alongside less-visible bacteria, such as bacterias that cause food poisoning, including salmonella or E. coli. The USDA fact sheet suggests discarding moisture-rich food that shows mold, as they are likely to also have bacterial growth. These bacteria often cause nausea, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea.
Acute Aflatoxicosis
Many grain and nut crops are affected by mycotoxin-producing molds. Mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin, are cancer-causing agents that are so prevalent in some crop types that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the USDA consider them unavoidable contaminants, although those administrations do monitor crops for high mycotoxin levels and remove crops with dangerously high levels.
Aflatoxin is made by the Aspergillus mold and is associated with serious diseases in humans, domestic animals and livestock. According to an article at the Cornell University Department of Animal Sciences website, acute aflatoxicosis from aflatoxins can lead to liver, heart and kidney damage, and in some cases, convulsions, coma and death. Cases of acute aflatoxicosis are most frequently seen in countries with limited food supplies or little food regulation. Long-term effects of regular but low consumption of aflatoxins are not completely understood as of yet.
Tags: food, mold, fact sheet, acute aflatoxicosis, cause food, cause food poisoning, food poisoning, USDA fact, USDA fact sheet
