Black mold is ordinarily mentioned in connection with the damage it can do to a building structure or the health of a person who has respiratory problems. A home or warehouse, however, are not the only places where black mold can be found. Food can also have evidence of black mold, and this fungus is just as dangerous on a piece of bread as it is on the wall of the house.
Black mold needs a food source on which to grow. This could just as easily be a dinner roll or tomato as it could be the cellulite found in wood. Black mold needs moist areas and a food larder in the basement may offer the environment. Black mold, also known as stachybotrys chartarum, has been found on wet grain used in feeding animals. It has even been suggested that the presence of black mold on various forms of grain caused plague in centuries gone by.
The big difference between black mold found in the structure of a home and black mold found in the pantry is the contact humans have with it. Black mold usually grows in those areas of a building where people rarely go. However, people might accidentally eat food contaminated with black mold. That can cause very serious health problems in individuals, as the same mycotoxins found in the mold of a basement can also be found in mold contaminated food.
Black mold spreads wherever it is found. This means that if a contaminated piece of fruit is placed next to non-contaminated fruit, it will not be long before the other shows evidence of black mold spores. Another problem is that it can be airborne. It is entirely possible for mold spores to spread through the atmosphere of a kitchen, making contact with even more food that is lying about and exposed. The consequences for the health of anybody eating the food is obvious.
The means that in order to prevent black mold in the kitchen are the same as what are used to prevent black mold in the basement. Humidity is the primary medium for black mold and proper ventilation will keep humidity from becoming a problem. Foodstuffs, particularly grain, should be kept in airtight containers that do not allow moisture to get in. Food in the refrigerator needs to be examined carefully and often. If mold is found growing on any piece of food stored in a refrigerator, that item needs to be removed before it comes into contact with other food. Anything in a refrigerator must to be stored in containers with tight lids. Black mold found on the interior walls of a refrigerator should be washed off as soon as possible.
An easy and economical way to prevent black mold in the kitchen is to change shopping patterns. Too often people buy more food than they actually need, and the excess is stored in places that are prone to infestation. Buying smaller quantities of food that are quickly consumed will minimize the dangers of black mold contamination. Other means of prevention are the periodic cleaning of storage cabinets and checking the refrigerator for any signs of contamination. Black mold forms only when the conditions are conducive. Proper storage, humidity control, and cleaning up areas where food is prepared are the best means of seeing to it that this fungus is not given a chance to generate.