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And, some molds produce mycotoxins, which are poisonous substances that can make people sick. “It just depends on what type of mycotoxin that the mold would produce,” Dr. Scuderi explains ...
Molds with mycotoxins, or toxic substances, are the most harmful. "They can cause severe illness if ingested in large doses or over time," Gavin says. Gavin says these include:
And certain types of mold — aka the "ugly" — can produce toxic substances called mycotoxins under the right conditions, says Wee. These can make anyone sick and pose serious health risks.
It is thought that all molds may produce mycotoxins, [45] and thus all molds may be potentially toxic if large enough quantities are ingested, or the human becomes exposed to extreme quantities of mold. Mycotoxins are not produced all the time, but only under specific growing conditions. Mycotoxins are harmful or lethal to humans and animals ...
Examples of mycotoxins causing human and animal illness include aflatoxin, citrinin, fumonisins, ochratoxin A, patulin, trichothecenes, zearalenone, and ergot alkaloids such as ergotamine. [5] One mold species may produce many different mycotoxins, and several species may produce the same mycotoxin. [8]
The molds can colonize and contaminate food before harvest or during storage, especially following prolonged exposure to a high-humidity environment, or to stressful conditions such as drought. Aflatoxin contamination is increasing in crops such as maize as a result of climate change creating better conditions for these molds.
This is why the mold that pops up on your breakfast muffin may look different than the furry layer that grows on your lunch meats, explains Elena Ivanina, DO, gastroenterologist, Lenox Hill ...
The molds that can produce trichothecenes grow well in dark, temperate places with high moisture content. Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent trichothecene contamination in food products is to store the resources in the proper conditions to prevent the growth of molds. [66]