Mold on Produce: When to Toss the Whole Package
- 1 cited USDA/FDA/FSIS source
- Content updated 2026-06-26
Exact references cover 0 of 6 detected claims in the English guide. The remaining statements have not completed exact-source review. References alone do not confirm every claim; normal smell or appearance does not prove safety.
Mold on food is not always visible on the surface. On soft foods, roots and toxins can spread throughout. On hard foods, you may cut away a generous margin.
Discard the whole item
- Berries, grapes, peaches, and other soft fruit.
- Bread, muffins, and soft baked goods.
- Soft cheese, yogurt, sour cream, and cottage cheese.
- Peanut butter, jam, and soft spreads with any mold.
- Cooked leftovers with mold — never scrape and eat.
Trim a generous margin
- Hard cheese — cut at least 1 inch around and below mold; rewrap.
- Firm produce such as cabbage and bell peppers — trim generously if mold spot is small.
One moldy strawberry
Toss the moldy berry and inspect the rest. If any in the container touch the moldy one or show fuzz, discard the batch — mold spreads quickly in moist clamshells.
Related on FoodLasts
Guides: Spoilage signs guide
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Sources: FoodSafety.gov — Keep Food Safe . Content updated 2026-06-26. See the exact-source coverage above.