Eli5 As early stages of mold spreads on food (ex. bread, fruit) would getting rid of the “infected” area make it safe to eat?

Question

Eli5 As early stages of mold spreads on food (ex. bread, fruit) would getting rid of the “infected” area make it safe to eat?

In: 6

Answer 1

Mold is not a plant, but it works a little bit like a plant.

Imagine that the food is the soil, and mold is a plant growing in it. The fuzzy bits you see on the surface are just the “flowers” of the mold. The fuzz produces spores, which are like plant seeds; they let the mold spread to other nearby foods too. But the “roots” of the mold are deeper in the food.

If the food is very hard and dry (like a block of hard cheese), then the “roots” grow slowly, and you can cut the moldy area out. But if the food is soft (like a fruit or bread), then the “roots” have gone further than you can see.