Dietitian Natalia Ipaves warned that soft fruits and vegetables showing signs of mold should be thrown away immediately rather than trimmed.
Speaking to publication Terra, Ipaves explained that the safety of consuming produce after removing mold depends entirely on the physical structure and moisture level of the specific food item.
Soft and watery items are particularly vulnerable to deep fungal growth. Ipaves listed strawberries, grapes, peaches, papaya, and watermelons as produce that must be discarded completely once mold is detected on the skin.
According to Ipaves, fungi can spread throughout the interior of soft fruits and vegetables before any contamination becomes visible to the naked eye. In porous and high-moisture plant tissues, microscopic fungal structures penetrate deep beneath the surface patch, contaminating areas that appear healthy.
Mold growth on food consists of visible surface spores and an invisible network of root-like threads. In soft fruits, these threads move rapidly through water-filled cellular structures, releasing chemical byproducts that can make the food unsafe to eat even if the outer mold is cut away.
Handling firm fruits and vegetables
Produce with low moisture content and a firm structure resists deep fungal penetration. Mold struggles to push through dense plant walls, making it harder for contamination to spread beyond the immediate surface area.
However, Ipaves cautioned that firm items still require careful handling. She explained that simply scraping off a mold spot or removing a thin outer layer is not enough to make the item safe.
To prevent spreading spores, Ipaves said consumers must cut away a generous amount of material surrounding and underneath the affected section. She emphasized that the knife must not touch the mold, as a contaminated blade can transfer fungal material across the clean parts of the vegetable.
Recognizing damaged watermelons
The guidance from Ipaves follows previous food safety advice from gastroenterologist Irina Gubanova, who listed specific signs of a dangerous watermelon.
Gubanova identified surface cracks, dents, and rind damage as primary indicators that a watermelon may be compromised. Cracks and skin breaches allow environmental bacteria and mold to enter the interior flesh, accelerating spoilage in high-moisture fruits.
