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• What Are Molds?
• Are Some Molds Dangerous?
• Are Molds Only on the Surface of Food?
• Where Are Molds Found?
• What Are Some Common Foodborne Molds?
• What Are Mycotoxins?
• What is Aflatoxin?
• How Does the U.S. Government Control Aflatoxins?
• Is Mushroom Poisoning Caused by Molds?
• Are Any Food Molds Beneficial?
• Why Can Mold Grow in the Refrigerator?
• How Can You Minimize Mold Growth?
• Don’t Buy Moldy Foods
• Must Homemade Shelf-Stable Preserves be Water-Bath Processed?
• How Can You Protect Food from Mold?
• How Should You Handle Food with Mold on It?

Are Any Food Molds Beneficial?

Yes, molds are used to make certain kinds of cheeses and can be on the surface of cheese or be developed internally. Blue veined cheese such as Roquefort, blue, Gorgonzola, and Stilton are created by the introduction of P. roqueforti or Penicillium roqueforti spores. Cheeses such as Brie and Camembert have white surface molds. Other cheeses have both an internal and a surface mold. The molds used to manufacture these cheeses are safe to eat.

USDA United States Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
http://www.fsis.usda.gov
September 2005