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During a recent cabinet discussion about food waste, Prime Minister Theresa May is believed to have said that she doesn’t dispose of the jam when it’s grown mould but she scrapes the mould off and consumes the jam underneath.
Theresa May’s habit has sparked a nationwide debate, with some people to praising the prime minister for making a conscious effort to reduce waste.
Others have expressed their disgust over the idea of eating food that’s previously gone mouldy
It also provoked a discussion about which foods are and aren’t safe to eat if they’ve grown mould.
For example, foods that have a high water content, such as cooked pasta and soft fruits, are not safe to eat if they’ve grown mould, as the mould can easily contaminate the food items below the surface
Foods you can eat:
Hard salami and dry-cured hams
It is perfectly normal for foods stored at room temperatures such as hard salami and dry-cured country hams to sometimes have mould on the surface
As such, it’s safe to scrape the mould from the surface and consume the meat underneath.
Hard cheese
When hard cheeses such as parmesan and Grana Padano grow mould, it’s unlikely that it would penetrate deep underneath the surface of the cheese, the USDA explains.
When consuming a hard cheese that has mould on it, you should cut off at least one inch around the mould, making sure that the knife you’re using doesn’t come into contact with the mould. Once the mould has been removed it should then be covered in new plastic wrapping to store.
Firm fruits and vegetables.
While it isn’t advisable to eat soft fruits and vegetables that have grown mould, it can be ok when consuming firm produce such as carrots, bell peppers, and cabbage.
“If the food is hard like pumpkin and has low water content, then you can safely cut the mould off, providing you cut at least one centimetre off around where the mould is.
When fruits and vegetables that are firm have a low water content, this hinders the mould from penetrating too deeply below the surface.
The FSA advises avoiding any fruits and vegetables that are obviously rotten/mouldy due to risks from the mould, as toxins may penetrate below the surface.
“However, if fruit/vegetables are a bit overripe (for example wrinkly apples and carrots, brown bananas, slightly mushy strawberries) it is fine to use them in cooking/smoothies/cakes,” they add.
Foods you should be wary of
Luncheon and cooked leftover meat
Foods that have a high water content, such as luncheon meats or cooked leftover meat, can be harmful to eat if they’ve grown mould on them.
“Food with high moisture content can be contaminated below the surface,” the USDA states.
“Mouldy foods may also have bacteria growing along with the mould.”
Cooked grains or pasta
This same rule applies to cooked grains and pasta, which have a high water content.
Soft cheese
While some cheeses are safe to eat when they’ve grown mould, such as hard cheeses or cheeses manufactured with mould, the same doesn’t go for all cheeses.
When mould appears on soft cheeses such as Brie and Camembert that weren’t included in the manufacturing process, then it’s recommended to discard the cheeses immediately.
Jam.
Theresa May’s recent admission that she removes mould from jam before eating it sparked a huge debate.
The USDA advises throwing away jam if it’s grown mould, as the mould could produce a mycotoxin, which is a toxic substance produced by fungus that would be detrimental to consume.
“Microbiologists recommend against scooping out the mould and using the remaining condiment,” the USDA states.
However, official advice on the health concerns surrounding the practice varies.
In 2014, mould expert Dr Patrick Hickey is believed to have informed the BBC that it is safe to scrape mould off jam before eating the condiment underneath.
Yogurt
As a food item with a high water content, it isn’t advisable to eat yogurt on which mould has started growing.
Soft fruits and vegetables
While mould can be safely removed from firm fruits and vegetables, this same tactic doesn’t apply to soft fruits and vegetables such as peaches, tomatoes, and cucumbers due to the high water content of the foods.
Leavened bread, containing raising agents such as yeast, contains air pockets that are formed following the fermentation process.
Bread.
Due to the porous nature of bread, mould can easily spread and contaminate below its surface.
“Bread should be safe to consume past its ‘Best Before’ date but consumers should not eat bread that is mouldy, or remove mould and consume the rest,” advises the FSA.
“While consumers may not wish to consume stale bread, it can be used safely in some recipes.”
Leavened bread, containing raising agents such as yeast, contains air pockets that are formed following the fermentation process.
Due to the porous nature of bread, mould can easily spread and contaminate below its surface.
“Bread should be safe to consume past its ‘Best Before’ date but consumers should not eat bread that is mouldy, or remove mould and consume the rest,” advises the FSA.
“While consumers may not wish to consume stale bread, it can be used safely in some recipes.”
Leavened bread, containing raising agents such as yeast, contains air pockets that are formed following the fermentation process.
Due to the porous nature of bread, mould can easily spread and contaminate below its surface.
“Bread should be safe to consume past its ‘Best Before’ date but consumers should not eat bread that is mouldy, or remove mould and consume the rest,” advises the FSA.
“While consumers may not wish to consume stale bread, it can be used safely in some recipes.”
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