What Makes Food Mold?
We've all reached for a slice of bread and noticed white or green fuzzy stuff growing on it. Ever wondered what exactly that stuff is and how it got there?
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Mold Invades Our Food
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According to Evelyn Tsang from McGill University, tiny mold spores float around in the air like dandelion seeds, looking for a food source. The fungi we call mold cannot create its own food, so the spores settle on our food and grow, or germinate, as they digest it.
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Mold Grows
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, once mold spores settle on food, their root threads invade it, and stalks rise above the surface. New spores form at the end of the stalks, and this is what gives the mold the color we see. Since root threads grow under the surface of the food, we usually can't see them, so there might be more mold within the inside of a food than you think, spreading toxins throughout.
Where Mold Grows
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Food must be exposed to air for spores to come in contact with it, and mold needs oxygen to grow, according to the USDA. Mold growth is encouraged by warm and humid conditions, but some mold can even grow in the refrigerator. This is because mold spores from affected foods can build up in your refrigerator and spread to the food inside.
Protect Food From Mold
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The USDA recommends keeping food covered at all times to prevent exposure to mold spores in the air and keeping your refrigerator clean to prevent mold spores from living inside it. Once food is opened, refrigerate within two hours and use leftovers within three to four days so mold doesn't have a chance to grow.
Safe Handling of Moldy Food
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According to the USDA, you should never sniff food with mold on it, as you could inhale mold spores, causing respiratory trouble. If food is covered with mold, discard it and clean the area of the refrigerator or pantry where the food was stored. When grocery shopping, examine food carefully before you buy it.
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