If you are like many people, you hate to see food go to waste. As long as the food is still edible, chances are people will eat it, including leftovers in the fridge. But what about moldy bread? Is it safe to eat, or should you throw it away in the trash?
In most cases, moldy bread should be disposed of, and here’s why.
Is it okay to eat moldy bread?
The mold on bread comes in a variety of different types. In all cases though, the mold is actually a type of fungus. And while you might think you can simply tear off the moldy part and eat the rest, that is not the case.
The reasons why you shouldn’t eat moldy bread
The mold you can see on the bread is where the mold has surfaced and serves as the reproductive part of the mold. This growth, also known as sporangiums, releases the spores the mold uses to grow.
In addition, the roots of the mold have already spread throughout the piece of bread. So, even though you can’t see it, the rest of the piece of bread already has mold in it as well.
Chances are the whole loaf is contaminated
In fact, you should go ahead and throw away the whole loaf of bread as chances are, it is already infected with the mold too. It is not worth taking a chance as some molds can actually do major harm.
The effects of eating moldy bread
Depending on the type of mold, you can either suffer no effect to harmful effects from eating it. And while the mold on the bread could be harmless, there is really no way to tell.
The different types of molds found on bread
Black mold, also known as Rhizopus Stolonifera, is probably the most common type of mold you will find on your bread. Usually appearing as a fuzzy blue mold with light green patches, black mold can cause severe allergic reactions in some people and nausea and vomiting.
Penicillium bread mold is akin to the same mold used to make penicillin and blue cheese. But in some cases, can cause an allergic reaction in people allergic to penicillin. Even in those not allergic, Penicillium molds can create mycotoxins which are linked to other illnesses, including cancer. The mold appears fuzzy white, light gray, or light blue in coloration.
Cladosporium bread mold is the most irritating for people with allergies and can cause sneezing, coughing, and wheezing in extreme cases. Cladosporium mold appears as darker green or black patches on a piece of bread and has a noticeable odor. And just like Penicillium mold can produce mycotoxins.
For more on why you should avoid eating moldy bread, check out the following video!
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H/T: YouTube – Science Insider, Sciencing
