What types of Mold Grows on Food?
On December 15, 2007, a reader requested the following:
I really need to know what type of mold grows on the following food:
Lunch Meat (Chicken Breast)
I cant seem to find this info anywhereâ€¦so if anyone could help me as soon as possible it would be much appreciated.
Different types of mold grow on different types of food.
Some molds cause severe health problems and sickness quickly where as others progressively worsen over time. Molds that contain mycotoxins are the cause of the illness from mold exposure.
Listed in the following are types of mold that typically grow on different foods:
Cauliflower is susceptible to a type of mold called White Mold or Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum.
This mold causes the vegetable to have to have a dark, green greasy or water soaked appearance.
Tomatoes & Raspberries
Both of these fruits can be assaulted with gray mold, or botrytis blight. Fruits or vegetables affected by this type of mold usually contain a visible grayish fuzz.
Lunch Meat (Chicken Breast)/ Hotdogs
According to the USDA, the following are the most common types of mold that can grow on meats and poultry:
Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Monilia, Manoscus, Mortierella, Mucor, Neurospora, Oidium, Oosproa, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Thamnidium. They are most certainly not limited to these types however.
I would recommend the following site for more information: USDA Mold Facts
Pita, because it is a type of bread, will most commonly develop the same forms of mold that other breads do.
Two of the most common are Rhizopus, a blackish fuzzy fungus, and Penicillium, which is a bluish-grayish-greenish fuzzy fungus usually having a white border.
Breads are of course not limited to these two types.
As Mozzarella cheese and yogurt are both dairy products, and of course mozzarella is a soft cheese, the most common type of mold that can be grown is Penicillium.
Aspergillus is another common mold that grows on dairy products. Soft dairies such as yogurt, sour cream, and soft cheeses (mozzarella, etc) should be disposed of quickly.
Further Recommended Reading :
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team