IN the current cost-of-living crisis food shopping is quite frankly extortionate.
It can therefore be tempting to cut the mould off food instead of chucking it out and wasting money.
GettyFirm fruit and veg with little spots of fuzzy mould can usually be salvaged[/caption]
But how safe is this, really?
What is food mould?
Food mould is microscopic fungi.
They reproduce by releasing spores into the air, and when they fall on to food that’s starting to turn, they can grow.
Eating mould can make you very sick.
But in some cases, cutting the mould off food can make it safe to eat, according to some food safety experts.
So what mouldy foods are safe to eat?
1. Marmalade
Skimming the mould off jam and marmalades and eating what’s underneath is fine.
“It’s got quite a lot of sugar,” food safety expert Sylvia Anderson said, which is a preservative.
But if you’re unsure, or the jam has a thick layer of mould, it’s best to spoon it straight into the food waste bin. The same applies to jars of curry paste.
2. Firm fruit and veg
Firm fruit and veg with little spots of fuzzy mould can usually be salvaged – but don’t put your knife in the mould in case of cross-contamination, the expert told Insider.
Avoid fruit and veg that’s slimy this is a signal the presence of bacteria that can cause food poisoning or stomach pain.
3. Hard cheese
Dry cheeses such as cheddar resist mould well, as they don’t provide the moist conditions it needs to multiply.
“If you find mould colonies on hard cheese that are smaller than 5mm, take at least 10mm off all sides before eating” mould expert Dr Patrick Hickey, told the BBC.
It’s a very different story for soft cheeses or any cheese that can be spread or crumbled.
The higher water content in these cheese mean microbes grow quickly, which can lead to salmonella and listeriosis if eaten.
Unless the mould has been deliberately introduced, as it is in blue cheese.