The Sept. 5 recall of Chobani Greek yogurt has brought more attention to the issue of mold development in foods and whether they're actually harmful.
The Food and Drug Administration received a total of 170 complaints associated with Chaobani yogurt as of Sept. 13 and customers have reported a variety of issues which include cramps, nausea, headache and diarrhea. The complaints were submitted by individuals in Arizona, Delaware, New York, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California, Indiana and Florida.
"There reports about a product only reflect information as reported and so not represent any conclusion by the FDA about whether the product actually caused the adverse events," said Tamara Ward, a spokesperson for the agency.
According to USA Today, you may want to avoid some items in your refrigerator, but apparently mold in yogurt is not a serious health threat for most consumers. The mold found in Chobani Greek yogurt was Mucor circinelloides, which is a type of mold found in yogurts that are associated with fruits, vegetables and diary.
"It has been reported to cause spoilage like swelling and bloating in yogurt," said Ward. "This mold should not pose a health risk to most consumers."
According to Ward, the mold can act as an pathogen (an agent that causes disease), which very rarely effects people with weak immune systems. In many cases, some foods have mold that's safe to eat. Other molds trigger allergic reactions and respiratory problems. There are a few molds that produce mycotoxins, which are poisonous substance.
Individuals often identify mold as fuzzy green or white spots, but it can be hard to figure out how deep the mold runs in the food. Invisible bacteria can grow along with the mold.
If an individual accidentally eats yogurt with mold. it's not necessary to seek medical assistance if the symptoms only last a day or two. David Heber, a professor in the UCLA Department of Medicine said in most causes individual will not notice anything and the mold would pass through their body.
"You might have some gastrointestinal upset like nausea and diarrhea, but it would be transient," said Heber, who is also director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition. "It wouldn't take up residence unless someone has a compromised immune system."
Heber said if the symptoms persist for more than a day, then an individual should seek medical assistant.
If an individual finds mold on the top of yogurt, they should discard the entire product immediately, according to Kantha Shelke, a spokeswoman for the Institute of Food Technologists, a non-profit scientific society in Chicago.
Mold that appears on the surface of fluid foods are mycelium or mass of thread-lie filaments, penetrated the item said Shelke. The yogurt should also be discarded if it develops and odor. When it comes to buying yogurt, it's best to not buy yogurt past its self-by-date. Avoid picking yogurt containers that are swollen or have torn or wrinkled foil seals. Also avoid dirty deals. Mold found on a slice of bread usually means that the entire loaf is moldy and an individual should impenitently throw it the whole bag away.
"Mold bread is not salvageable, and mold spores spread quickly throughout soft foods and can contaminate the entire bag," Shelke said.
People should avoid sniffing foods with molds. It can cause respiratory troubles, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
When discarding a mold related food product, the item must be placed in a paper or plastic bag and disposed in a covered trash container so it remains out of reach, for the safety of children and pets. Clean the are where the food was stored and check other items that the moldy food might have touched.