What Is Mold?
Molds are microscopic fungi which can live on plant and animal. Although how many variety of mold exist in the world isn’t known, it is expected that ten thousand. Generally, molds have filamentous pattern and form spor. These spors are transformed by air, water and insects.
As a difference from unicellular bacteria, molds form multi-cellular structures, even they can be seen by naked eye. The structure of the mold includes micelles, stem and spor.
Spors give the color of the mold. Mold can penetrate the inside of the food easily by its micelles. There is a big probability that moldy foods also contain bacteria.
Are Foods Dangerous?
Yes, some molds causes allergic reactions and respiratory problems. Some of them produce toxic materials which are named “mycotoxin”.
Are Molds Only Exist On Food Surfaces?
No,people only see the surface part. But if there is mold grown in food, micelles penetrate the inside of the food. If mold produce mycotoxin, toxin generally exist in and around micelles. In some cases, toxin may spread whole food.
Where Do Molds Exist?
Molds exist almost everywhere, during every season. Temperature and humidity accelerate mold growth. Molds exist in dark, humid. In unsuitable conditions molds spread as spor, in optimum conditions they multiply.
Which Molds Exist In Food?
The molds, which exist in meat and poultry , are; Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Monilia, Manoscus, Mortierella, Mucor, Neurospora, Oidium, Oosproa, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Thamnidium. These are also exist in many kinds of foods.
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