Spoiled food and drinks: When in doubt, throw it out
The bottom line
Mold releases spores that germinate in moisture, warmth, and food. On food, the spores look like colorful fuzz. Drinks may have a bad smell, taste flat, or appear cloudy. Gastrointestinal symptoms, respiratory problems and allergic reactions can occur after ingesting moldy food or drink. Some molds produce poisonous mycotoxins. It is best to avoid foods after their “use by” date.
Prevention Tips
Check food before you buy it to be sure it doesn’t have mold.
Buy small amounts of food and use it quickly.
Clean towels and sponges.
Every few months clean the inside of the refrigerator with baking soda dissolved in water (1 tbsp in one quart).
Keep humidity in house below 40%.
Keep food covered when serving.
Put perishables in clean containers and refrigerator immediately.
Avoid keeping perishables out of refrigerator for more than two hours.
Leftovers should be used within 3-4 days.
Discard most foods covered with mold.
Scrub mold off surface of hard salami and use.
Cut mold off hard cheese at least one inch around and firm fruits and vegetables at least one inch around and then use.
This Really Happened
A 54-year-old woman was preparing a bagel and cream cheese sandwich. When she took the tub of cream cheese out of the refrigerator, she noticed that it was past the expiration date and mold was growing in part of the tub. She scraped away the visible mold and used the cream cheese. Six hours later her stomach hurt and 3 hours after that she experienced nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and generally felt unwell. She called her poison center and was told to stay hydrated and limit food intake to toast, crackers, or rice. She was told that if symptoms worsened or didn’t resolve within 2 days to seek medical attention. Vomiting stopped in 6 hours, and remaining symptoms resolved over the next 12 hours.
How does mold form?
Mold spores are in the environment, including in air and on surfaces. Mold has root threads and a stalk, which rise above the food with spores at the end of the stalks. Mold releases spores, which then spread to form more mold. Moisture, warmth, and food sources allow spores to germinate. The spore penetrates food and releases enzymes that break down food.
How to identify moldy food
The spore producing structures are colorful so that you see fuzz on the food which may be white, grey, green, or even other colors.
How to tell if a drink is spoiled
Check if the bottle or can is damaged or there is a leak. If the drink smells sour or rancid and/or the taste is flat or sour and/or the appearance is cloudy or has bubbles in a non-carbonated drink, then it may be spoiled. If milk is curdled or lumpy, it is spoiled. If wine smells bad, is overly sweet, or tastes like vinegar, has a change in color, and/or the cork is damaged, it may be spoiled.
Is it safe to consume food/drinks after the expiration date?
You can consume food and drinks after the “sell by” or the “best by” date. In general, it is not recommended to consume food after the “expiration” or “use by” date. With that said, expiration dates are not regulated or standardized, so manufacturers may set expiration dates based on when food is at its best quality. Some foods, such as milk, yogurt, soft cheeses, vegetables, fruits, and eggs, are more likely to spoil and should not be used after the expiration date.
Symptoms of consuming moldy food
If you eat a small amount of moldy food and are healthy, you may experience no symptoms. Molds used in making some cheeses are safe to eat. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps are symptoms of consuming moldy food. Molds can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions including rashes. Molds found in grain, corn, nut crops, and some fruits can produce mycotoxins, which are poisonous. Aflatoxin is an example of poisonous mycotoxin which can cause liver failure. Molds can also sometimes contain bacteria, which can also make you sick.
Common molds to know
Molds found on fruits, vegetables, meats and baked goods include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Monilia, Manoscus, Mortierella, Mucor, Neurospora, Oidium, Oosproa, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Thamnidium.
Worried you’ve consumed moldy food or drinks? Here’s what to do.
If you are healthy and have consumed a small amount, there is a good chance you will be okay. Seek medical attention if you develop severe vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal cramps or are experiencing respiratory problems or an allergic reaction.
If someone swallows moldy food or drink, or if you have a question about mold on food or drink, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
