Just a questions some mates and i wondered while at uni. We don't eat mouldy bread because it looks and maybe smells disgusting. But is it actually bad for us? Does it contain any toxins that could actually make us ill? Any mycologists out there who could answer this?
2006-11-27 14:53:01 · 15 answers · asked by kalms 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
lol... was hoping for more indepth answers. And there's no need to tell me about penicillium.. that's precisely the reason I'm asking that question!
2006-11-27 15:19:33 · update #1
Both. Depending your tolerance to mold. I don't recommend eating the molded parts.But I have most likely eaten my share and not known it.
2006-11-27 15:03:36 · answer #1 · answered by Les Gramps 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not be afraid of a light mold on bread. I have eaten bread this way myself. And I am willing to bet you and many other people have also unwittingly, without any ill effects. I have never heard of anybody becoming ill or dieing from this, and I imagine if somebody is really hungry enough, they have eaten moldy bread that you wouldn't touch. With all the news today about tainted food, and if bread mold was really toxic, don't you think you would have heard about this in the news. After all, bread has been around a very long time. Did you know penicillin was discovered in mold?
2006-11-27 15:12:36 · answer #2 · answered by 6.1fishbob 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes moldy bread is toxic. Degree of toxicity depends on your tolerance to mold.
Grain mold has, down through the ages, caused many problems. Particularly the mold on the grain rye, ergot. There has even been talk that the reports of witches and supernatural occurrences effecting whole towns in the past were due to moldy grains.
Just about a year ago many dogs died in the State of Ohio because the bagged dog food had toxic mold, grain mold. Bagged dog food is very much like our bread.
Don't underestimate mold on anything in your kitchen.
2006-11-27 15:01:40 · answer #3 · answered by raredawn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a hard question to answer. Every mold is different. Each type of bread (rye, wheat, white) can harbor various molds. In LARGE amounts, the mold will harm you. Also, a MAJORITY of the population has some kind of mold allergy, which could be fatal. My advice: try not to get near moldy bread, they can sporulate and send spores flying through your house and into your lungs.
2006-11-27 15:03:11 · answer #4 · answered by Dinkbong 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't ever eat anything with mold. It can be dangerous. Even if you cut away the green stuff, the toxic spores are throughout the bread. Same goes with cheese. The ones with the natural intended bacteria like blue cheese is safe.
2006-11-27 14:59:18 · answer #5 · answered by serbianbeauty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bread mould is, or at least was, the only mould that could be grown in school when I did my A levels due to it's low toxicity. IT certainly isn't bad for you to consume small amounts, although it' s not nice to look at. I don't know if it would be bad for you to eat large quantities though
2006-11-27 19:28:44 · answer #6 · answered by emily_jane2379 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, mouldy bread is not bad for us... the mould is a form of penicillin. Of course, if you're allergic to penicillin, then it wouldn't do you much good.
I wouldn't recommend eating it though... I did so, by mistake... didn't see the mould around the edge of the crust and it doesn't taste too good. Don't feed it to the birds either, as it IS poisonous to them. :-)
2006-11-27 15:21:11 · answer #7 · answered by Darkwing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Poisonous. Well, not actually. The mold can grow in your stomach causing food infection (as opposed to food poisoning). Expect projectile vomiting and diarrhea at the same time.
2006-11-27 15:01:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all right. I've lost count of all the times i've eaten moldy bread.
2016-05-23 16:16:31 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone i know says mould is actually good for you. That's also what my doctor said when i went to my allergist appoitment we somehow got onto that conversation :)
Some moulds are actually used in some foods to create different flavours
2006-11-27 14:58:10 · answer #10 · answered by Imogen F 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋