It’s lunchtime, your stomach is growling and you’ve decided to make a sandwich. But as soon as you head to the pantry and open the bread bag, you see it: a whitish, greenish spot. Ugh — it’s mold.
Some slices look OK, though, with smaller or no moldy bits. Are those safe to eat? Maybe they haven’t been touched by the mold yet, you think.
The idea of eating them is gross, but if you are super hungry or haven’t been to the grocery store lately, you may be low on other options.
Plus, with the expectation that food costs will rise under President Donald Trump’s administration and the desire to reduce food waste, who wants to toss a whole loaf? Some might wonder if certain slices are still fine to eat, or at least won’t cause major stomach problems. Let’s see what food experts say.
What To Do If You See Mold On Just 1 Slice Of Bread
Unfortunately, mold on one slice is essentially mold on every slice (which is also the case for produce, by the way). It doesn’t matter if one piece looks fine or isn’t touching the moldy area — it’s all dangerous to eat.
“No matter how little the mold spot is on the bread, or how many slices are left of the loaf, it is not safe to eat moldy bread nor just cut around it and eat the rest, because the root of the mold already has deeply penetrated into it,” said Shelley Balls, a registered dietitian nutritionist with ServSafe manager certification on food safety.
And just because you might not see mold doesn’t mean it’s not there. “You may only see visible mold growing on the surface, like leaves on a tree or the petals of a flower,” explained Leanne Blommaert, the manager of food research and development at NSF, a public health organization. “But there is an entire network of roots called mycelia that can spread into and across all surfaces of bread.”
Besides being gross, this can make you feel sick.
The Dangers Of Eating Mold
If you’re a fan of blue cheese, you may think it’s perfectly fine to eat some mold. You’ve done it before and been OK, right?
That’s understandable and, in some cases, true. Mold isn’t always bad — but it can be.
“Eating moldy bread can upset your digestive system or cause allergic reactions, depending on the type of mold,” said Chris Mohr, a fitness and nutrition adviser at the website Garage Gym Reviews.
Dr. Kelly Krisna Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicologist with the MedStar Health hospital system, explained how this can happen. “Some types of mold that are found in spoiled bread, including Aspergillus and Penicillium, are also associated with allergies that can occur immediately or hours after people come into contact with them,” she said.
She added that gastrointestinal symptoms — like abdominal pain and diarrhea — may come from mycotoxins, which are secondary compounds from mold. They can change normal intestinal functions, with unpleasant results.
Those aren’t the only issues you may face, unfortunately. Even breathing in mold can cause health problems, according to Balls. People with asthma are especially at risk, Johnson-Arbor added, as the allergens can trigger breathing difficulties.
Johnson-Arbor recommended playing it safe. “Since some types of mold can cause unwanted health problems, and since it’s impossible for most people to tell whether a specific mold is harmful or not based on its appearance on food, it’s best to avoid consuming most moldy foods,” she said.
If you want a cheat sheet on when mold may be safe to eat (or eat around), check out this webpage from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Why Some Bread Slices Get Moldy Faster Than Others
Even when bread slices sit together, some can mold faster than others. How?
Balls said slices that mold faster may have more moisture or be warmer. She gave the example of a bread loaf with one side closer to a toaster, thus making it warmer and more likely to grow mold first.
Touching bread — with your hands or utensils — can cause mold spores to grow, too, Blommaert added. And that mold can spread.
Plus, mold can be airborne. Mohr said that slices near the seam of a bread bag, or near the end of a loaf, may mold faster. That’s because they’re closer to the air and moisture in your kitchen. Even if you don’t leave the bag open, it’s exposed to more air when you open it.
How To Prevent Mold From Growing On Your Bread
To some degree, mold growth is unavoidable with certain foods. However, there’s a way to slow its progress.
“You can safely store your bread in the fridge to extend its shelf life without any dangerous health risks,” Balls said.
The bread may become harder, she noted, but it’s safe to eat.
Whether this is the best option depends a little on the type of bread, however. Balls said to store crusty types of bread at room temperature only, but commercially made bread will have no or minimal problems with texture or flavor after sitting in the fridge. Just place it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
Putting bread in the freezer can also keep it from drying out, and it could still taste about the same as when you first bought or baked it. If you have more than you can eat in a few days, your slices may best reside there.
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Additionally, Blommaert suggested checking the expiration date of your bread and not consuming it past then. According to the USDA, commercially baked breads can be stored at room temperature for two to four days, refrigerated for seven to 14 days, or frozen for three months.
For anyone wanting to eat bread safely, Mohr offered this simple advice: “When in doubt, throw it out.”