Is eating moldy cheese dangerous?
David Craig
Updated on April 03, 2026
Is eating moldy 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. These molds are safe for healthy adults to eat.
Will I get sick from eating 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 happens if you eat rotten fruit?
“If you do eat a food past the expiration date [and the food] is spoiled, you could develop symptoms of food poisoning,” said registered dietitian nutritionist Summer Yule, MS. The symptoms of foodborne illness can include fever, chills, stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
What happens if you eat mold on cheese?
If you do end up accidentally eating mold, though, the results can be serious. In many people, inhaling mold while chewing can lead to respiratory problems and allergic reactions, Whittier says.
Is it bad to eat moldy cheese wedges?
Cheese Can Contain Mold Secretly One of the hidden dangers of cheese is mold. Sure, some people eat moldy cheese as a delicacy. Many people also just cut moldy chunks off of cheese wedges and choose to eat the rest. However, mold can be hiding in the cheese and be invisible to the naked eye.
Why does blue cheese have mold in it?
But the molds found originally in the blue cheese seem to not agree with this. Molds, or fungi in scientific term, are microscopic creatures that exist in many forms and therefore have many names. During ripening, the acidity and the moisture of certain food, including cheese, make as a good soil for mold to grow and reproduce.
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 are the side effects of eating mold?
Serious Side Effects of Eating Mold: The food containing mold has an adverse taste and texture. Certain people own a respiratory allergy to molds, and eating the food consisting of molds may create an allergic reaction. Certain kinds of mold may cause food poisoning, and this can make you sick. Besides, it can outcome in fever, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.
What are the symptoms of eating bad cheese?
A true dairy allergy can cause symptoms anywhere from minutes to hours after you eat cheese. These symptoms can include wheezing, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, a runny nose, watery eyes and itchy skin. In rare cases, life-threatening anaphylaxis can result.
Can you safely eat moldy bread or cheese?
Some mold is perfectly safe to eat and, in some cases, even desirable (the classic example would be cheeses made with mold, such as blue, Brie, Camembert, and Gorgonzola). Other molds can be quite toxic and may produce allergic reactions and respiratory problems, or produce poisonous substances called mycotoxins.
Can you still eat moldy 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,…