What Happens If You Eat Mold?

Summary

The video script delves into the diverse world of mold, highlighting its presence in everyday life and its potential impact on health. It outlines a guide for determining whether to discard moldy food, emphasizing the risk of ingesting harmful bacteria and mycotoxins, which can cause severe health issues. The script also explores the beneficial side of mold, such as its use in creating blue cheese and the discovery of penicillin, suggesting that mold could hold more undiscovered potential.

Takeaways

• 🍄 Mold is a type of fungi that can grow on various surfaces including food, and there are approximately 300,000 different types.
• 🚫 Consuming mold can lead to health issues like nausea, diarrhea, and in severe cases, liver damage or cancer due to mycotoxins.
• 🧀 Some molds are safe and even desirable, such as those used in the production of blue cheese, which have anti-bacterial properties and contribute to the cheese's texture and flavor.
• 🍽️ Mold on soft foods like yogurt, jam, peaches, or tomatoes should be discarded, while mold on harder foods like cheese, carrots, or hard salami can be cut away and the rest consumed.
• 🔬 Molds form hyphae, thread-like structures that can penetrate food, which may not always be visible to the naked eye.
• 🤢 Eating moldy food can introduce harmful bacteria into your system, potentially causing stomach pain, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues.
• 💊 Mold is the source of penicillin, one of the most significant antibiotics ever discovered, highlighting the dual nature of mold as both harmful and beneficial.
• 🍃 Mold can grow in buildings and on plants and animals, indicating its widespread presence in various environments.
• ⚠️ Mycotoxins, produced by certain mold strains, are poisonous and can survive food processing, posing a risk if ingested.
• 🔎 The script suggests that while mold can be dangerous, it also holds potential for scientific discovery and innovation.

Q & A

What is mold and where can it be found?

Mold is a type of microscopic fungi that can be found living on plants, animals, and even in buildings. It forms branches known as hyphae which can burrow into food.

How many types of mold are there?

There are up to 300,000 different types of mold, each with the potential to affect humans in various ways.

What are some common effects of mold on humans?

Mold can cause a range of effects from mild, like nausea or diarrhea, to severe, including liver damage, cancer, DNA damage, and immune system deficiency.

How should one determine if moldy food is safe to eat?

Soft foods like yogurts, jams, peaches, or tomatoes should be thrown away if mold is found. Harder foods like cheese, carrots, or hard salami can be trimmed to remove the mold and the rest can be eaten.

What are mycotoxins and why are they dangerous?

Mycotoxins are poisonous substances produced by certain strains of mold. They can be found in various foods and can survive most food processing methods. They can cause serious health issues like liver damage and cancer.

What is aflatoxin and where is it commonly found?

Aflatoxin is a particularly dangerous variety of mycotoxins that can grow on corn and peanuts. It can cause liver damage, cancer, DNA damage, and immune system deficiency.

Are there any beneficial uses of mold?

Yes, some molds are used intentionally for their benefits. For example, blue cheese is made using non-toxic blue molds that have antibacterial properties and contribute to the cheese's unique flavor and texture.

How do the molds used in blue cheese production affect its properties?

The molds Penicillium roqueforti and Penicillium glaucum used in blue cheese production have antibacterial properties that suppress pathogens and break down proteins, resulting in a creamy texture and sharp flavor.

What is the connection between mold and the discovery of penicillin?

Penicillin, one of the most powerful antibiotics, was discovered from the mold Penicillium. This shows that mold can have significant beneficial uses in medicine.

What should one do if they accidentally consume moldy food?

If one accidentally consumes moldy food, they should monitor for symptoms like stomach pain, vomiting, or other signs of illness and seek medical attention if necessary.

How can mold's presence in food be detected and what are the risks of not removing it?

Mold in food can be detected by visible growth or an off smell. The risks of not removing it include the ingestion of harmful bacteria and mycotoxins, which can lead to serious health problems.