Mold on Produce: When to Toss the Whole Package

Soft foods and cooked leftovers

• Discard moldy soft fruits and vegetables, bread and baked goods, soft cheese, yogurt and sour cream. Contamination can extend below the surface. USDA — corresponding food rows.
• Discard moldy jams and jellies, peanut butter, and cooked leftovers; do not simply scoop or scrape away the visible spot. USDA — corresponding food rows.

Limited trimming exceptions

For hard cheese where mold is not part of processing, USDA says to cut at least 1 inch (2.54 cm) around and below the spot, keeping the knife out of the mold, then use fresh wrapping. Small mold spots on firm, low-moisture produce such as cabbage, bell peppers and carrots have the same cutting margin. These are specific exceptions, not a rule for every food that appears firm. USDA — Hard cheese / FIRM fruits and vegetables.

Cheeses intentionally made with mold have separate instructions depending on cheese type and whether the unexpected mold belongs to the manufacturing process. Read the exact USDA row; do not treat every mold on soft cheese as intentional. USDA — Cheese made with mold.

A moldy berry and nearby food

Discard the moldy soft item and check nearby items it may have touched. USDA notes that mold spreads quickly among fruits and vegetables. USDA — How Should You Handle Food with Mold on It?.

Normal appearance cannot prove another item safe. Discard food with suspicious appearance or odor. FDA — Storage Basics.

Handling the affected area

Do not sniff moldy food. Wrap discarded moldy food or put it in a small paper bag and use a covered trash can away from children and animals. Clean the refrigerator or pantry spot where the food was stored and check food it may have touched. USDA — How Should You Handle Food with Mold on It?.

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Guides: Spoilage signs guide