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Elite Edition

Is the mold that grows on cheese dangerous?

Author

David Edwards

Published Mar 30, 2026

Is the mold that grows on cheese dangerous?

Mold generally can’t penetrate far into hard and semisoft cheeses, such as cheddar, colby, Parmesan and Swiss. So you can cut away the moldy part and eat the rest of the cheese. Cut off at least 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) around and below the moldy spot. These molds are safe for healthy adults to eat.

What kind of fungus grows on cheese?

Abstract. Important fungi growing on cheese include Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Geotrichum, Mucor, and Trichoderma. For some cheeses, such as Camembert, Roquefort, molds are intentionally added.

Is white stuff on cheese mold?

White spots on hard cheeses are likely amino acid clusters, not mold. Small specks of surface mold may develop (blue or green typically), but they’re harmless—easily scraped off with no ill effect to the cheese underneath.

Will cooking moldy cheese kill bacteria?

Baking moldy cheese at high temperatures to kill the mold is not recommended. Feel free to bake intentionally moldy cheeses, like gorgonzola or brie, for tasty and warming recipes — but if your cheese is not meant to be moldy, baking it won’t help salvage it.

Will I get sick if I eat moldy cheese?

Dangers of eating moldy cheese Molds can carry harmful bacteria, including E. coli, Listeria, Salmonella, and Brucella, all of which can cause food poisoning ( 5 , 6 ). The symptoms of food poisoning include vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea. In severe cases, it may lead to death.

What kind of bacteria can you get from moldy cheese?

With these cheeses, the mold can send threads throughout the cheese — contaminating more than you see. In addition, harmful bacteria, such as listeria, brucella, salmonella and E. coli, can grow along with the mold. Mold generally can’t penetrate far into hard and semisoft cheeses, such as cheddar, colby, Parmesan and Swiss.

What does it look like when you eat moldy cheese?

( Penicillium candidum to be more precise.) “Brie starts off looking like a disc of fresh cheese, then grows a whole lot of fuzzy white mold,” describes Morillo. “They call it ‘cat’s fur,’ and the cheesemaker literally pats all the mold down, flips the cheese over, and lets the process repeat.”

Is it safe to eat blue cheese with mold?

Types of Molds. Some fungi can get all of the nutrition they need to grow by developing on cheese. Mold types of the family Penicillium, which produce blue-green spores that give the mold its color. Most types of Penicillium are harmless and, in fact, are often used to give the Blue Cheeses their color and flavor, so they are very safe to eat.

What’s the best way to remove mold from cheese?

For aged or hard cheeses like parmesan, or cheddar, light surface mold can be dealt with by cutting around the moldy bit and removing it. Roughly an inch around and an inch deep is a good rule of thumb for how much to cut away.

Is mold on cheese bad for You?

According to the Mayo Clinic, if you were to eat a soft cheese with mold, you increase the risk of being exposed to foodborne pathogens such as listeria, salmonella, and E. coli that grow along with the mold. So always make sure you’re taking note of what type of cheese you’re eating!

Is it safe to eat mold on cheese?

It usually is safe to eat moldy cheese — but there’s a caveat. It really depends on the type of cheese and your individual health. There are certain molds that are used to make cheeses, like Roquefort , bleu cheese, Brie, Camembert and Gorgonzola. These particular cheeses are perfectly safe to eat,…

Is cheese mold, or just the byproduct of mold?

Cheese is not mold nor is it the by-product of mold. Some cheese varieties like blue cheese have specific species of mold that are intentionally added during the cheesemaking process to enhance the flavor of texture. The mold added to these cheeses can be thought of as a special ingredient.

What do cheeses have mold?

Top 10 Foods High in Fungal Molds The Top 10 Foods High in Fungal Molds 1). Aged Cheeses. – This goes without saying, the more that cheeses age, the more mold they acquire. 2). Mushrooms -. 3). Canned Peanut Butter -. 4). Canned Orange Juice and Juices. 5). Tomato Products -. 6). Dried Fruit -. 7). Breads and Malted Products -. 8). Fermented Foods -. 9). Beer and Alcohol -.