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Have you ever opened the fridge and found a little patch of mold growing on your fruit or vegetables? Your first thought might be to simply cut off the bad spot and eat the rest. It seems like a reasonable way to avoid wasting food, but new research suggests that may not be enough. Many people take this approach, but mold and its toxins can spread beyond what you can see.
A new survey points out that the toxins produced by mold can spread beyond the area where the mold is visible, particularly in foods with plenty of moisture, such as fruits and vegetables. Researchers surveyed 1,000 people to find out how much they know about mold toxins, what they do when they find mold in their kitchens and what influences those decisions.
The survey revealed a mix of food safety habits. People were generally more willing to toss foods that were clearly spoiled, but their decisions became less certain when mold appeared on foods such as produce, cheese and dried spices. Some felt that removing the affected area was enough to make the food safe. In total, around 30% of respondents said they had cut off mold and ate the remaining portion.
There was also some confusion about whether heat can take care of mold toxins. Just over 46% of people knew that cooking or baking does not destroy them, while 27% believed strong heat would make the toxins harmless and 25% were uncertain.
The results showed that people understood some aspects of mold better than others. Just over half knew that mold toxins can be present in packaged fruit and vegetable products and in dried spices. Knowledge about the hidden nature of mold was stronger, however. More than 92% recognized that even bread slices that look fine may be contaminated if mold is found elsewhere in the package, while 85% knew that mold toxins themselves are invisible.
The soft texture of some foods allows mold to spread beyond the area you can see, which means cutting away the visible spot may not remove all of the contamination. In addition, moldy foods can contain bacteria, and some molds can produce toxins under the right conditions. That is why moldy areas should not always be cut away, as the mold may have spread beyond what is visible, making it safer to discard the entire food.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Perception of mycotoxins (mold poisons) in food
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