There’s nothing more unsatisfying than taking a bite of a piece of bread, only to notice halfway through that it’s covered in a fuzzy, disgusting substance. The good news is, eating a little bit of moldy bread likely isn’t going to harm you – you will likely just feel a little nauseous.
Hey, there, readers! My name is Michelle, and if you didn’t know already, I’m a lover of bread. I will be honest with you, though – I have accidentally eaten a few bites of moldy bread. Yes, it was disturbing and gross. But it wasn’t anything I needed to rush to the ER for, thank goodness.
If you’ve just sunk your teeth into a moldy slice of bread, don’t panic. Instead, read the rest of this article to find out what to do when you accidentally eat moldy bread.
Let’s talk all the buzz about the fuzz.
What to do if You Accidentally Eat Moldy Bread
Moldy bread isn’t exactly appetizing, but it doesn’t mean you should try to scrub your tongue with a wire brush or race off to the hospital. In fact, you don’t really need to do anything, especially if you have a healthy immune system.
The environment of your stomach is so harsh and acidic that most fungus and molds will be destroyed on contact. With that said, your stomach will hardly notice that you’ve eaten something “gross” such as mold, and it will be digested as usual.
Essentially, this is what you should do if you accidentally eat moldy bread:
- Eat the bread
- Feel ashamed and grossed out that you ate moldy bread
- Scrunch up your face in disgust
- Throw the whole loaf away
- Try and think about something else
- Watch for signs that extend beyond nausea
- Be a bit more cautious of mold next time
It’s true that you might feel some nauseousness, but it’s likely not due to the mold itself. It’s more because you’re entirely grossed out that you ate the mold. That’s why I recommend trying to take your mind off of it ASAP.
Can You Get Sick from Eating Mold?
It is very, very unlikely that you will get sick from eating mold. While you may get a slight stomach ache and feel a little nauseous, you shouldn’t experience any other symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.
On the off chance you do have worsening symptoms that just won’t quit; you should see a doctor right away. The doctor may prescribe an anti-nausea medicine. They may also go the opposite route and prescribe something that causes diarrhea and vomiting to flush your system.
However, don’t panic while reading that. There is such a small chance of this occurring. Really, the only possible way this could happen is if you ate a ton of moldy bread with Mycotoxins. And let’s be real – are you really going to keep eating fuzzy bread? I doubt it.
There is a chance that you could also be allergic to mold. These types of allergies are not common, though, and they shouldn’t be life-threatening. They may require doctor treatment, but it is only temporary, and you should heal up just fine.
Can the Rest of the Bread Be Salvaged?
Okay, tossing an entire batch of bread because one piece had mold sounds like a big waste of money and food. I hate wasting food. So, I have even thought about simply cutting out the moldy area and salvaging the rest of the bread.
Through research, though, I have learned that you should never cut off the mold and eat the rest of the bread. That’s because mold has roots that will invade bread. And, since bread is so soft, fluffy, and easily penetrable, mold spores can spread quickly.
It’s true even though you may not be able to see the mold – yet. This is a super fun video that teaches about what happens to the entire loaf of bread when mold starts growing.
FAQs
Eating moldy bread won’t kill you and shouldn’t even make you feel sick beyond a little bit of nausea. If you’re still curious about what to do when you accidentally ate moldy bread, check out these frequently asked questions below.
How long does it take to get food poisoning from moldy bread?
If you end up getting sick from moldy bread, it will likely happen within a few hours of consuming it. Remember that this is very unlikely, though, and tends only to occur when someone has consumed large amounts of moldy bread.
Should I make myself throw up if I ate moldy bread?
You might throw up just because you discovered you just ate the mold. After all, it’s pretty repulsive. However, you don’t have to make yourself throw up after eating moldy bread. Due to the stomach’s harsh and acidic environment, you will digest a bit of mold like anything else.
Is bread mold penicillin?
It may come as a surprise, but that mold growing on your bread (and other products, for that matter) can be penicillin. I don’t recommend trying to eat it to get rid of any ailments, though.
Can toasting bread kill mold?
No, actually the opposite. By heating the bread, you create an environment that allows the mold spores to spread more rapidly. So, don’t think that just because you toast your moldy bread, it’s good to go. Toss the whole loaf and buy fresh!
What is the green mold on bread?
The type of mold that grows on bread and comes out green is known as Aspergillus.
Final Words
Ingesting moldy bread likely will not harm you, but that doesn’t mean you should risk it. Give your bread a good lookover before consuming. If you accidentally eat a bite or two of moldy bread, don’t panic. Simply throw the entire loaf away and relax.
Have you ever eaten a bite of moldy bread? Did you get sick? What did you do? Share your stories with us in the comment section!
About Michelle
Heidi
Hi, Thanks for this. Im a bit more relaxed now. A few months ago, I tasted mould on my last slice of toast after my bread had been sitting in direct summer sunlight.. i was so unwell with cramps I had to call an ambulance 2 days later!
Today. Same thing happened after 1 slice (except bread in a darker place) and I have just necked some diluted apple cider vinegar in a panic to murder my stomach contects and counter. Wish me luck. I will take probiotics when it should be over to get my friendly bugs back and fast in the meantime.
Michelle
Hi Heidi,
I hope it works out for you and that you don’t get sick!
Peggy
Well, in my family, we almost never toss the bread. I would never eat bread with a lot of green mold on it. I have eaten the bread when it first starts to mold. Sometimes breads suddenly develops a small green spot or even a few slight white spots I know weren’t there when I bought it. I pull off the spots and use the bread as planned. I might toss a couple slices that sat behind the one with the spot….just because. If I don’t see anything on the rest of the bread, I stick it in the fridge and use it up. We do it all the time. No one in our family ever got sick from it.
Michelle
Hi Peggy,
Thanks for sharing! Glad you and your family have never fallen sick.
Marcus
I accidentally ate 4 slices of bread that had a little bit of mold on it. I didn’t realize until after I ate the 3rd slice. I made myself BLT’S and I didn’t realize the bread had mold in it. I hope I don’t get sick but I’ll keep ya’ll posted. I threw the rest of the loaf away and took out my trash and after I get done typing this comment I’m gonna brush my teeth and gargle Listerine mouth wash.
Michelle
Hi Marcus,
I hope you didn’t get sick. Keep us posted!
Marvel Masombuka
I ate mould bread by mistake yesterday my stomach is running since in the morning so I think the poison is coming out
Michelle
Hi Marvel,
I hope you’re feeling better!
Jacques
Good article!
Speaking logically, if you eat toasted moldy bread, and by mouldy, I mean a slight amount with little actual spreading.Then you put the slice into the toaster and the toaster heats to a temp of 500+C (1100F).
Then I read that Aspergillus are heat-sensitive and destroyed by heat treatments at temperatures of 140-160°F (60-71°C).. This would mean that your remark that toasting helps incubate mold might be in error, if you mean that we are using the two-slice old-fashioned toaster.
My guess is that a modest, or even very slight amount of mold on lovely toasting bread is hardly an issue if you are healthy and have a good, old style, cast iron stomach.
BTW, a tour of the caves at Roquefort-sur-Soulzon (FR) will reveal that the Penicillium roqueforti is cultivated by men and women in white lab coats, placed in a special plastic breathable bag of fine baguettes, and dangled in the lowest cave level so the spores can infect the raw SHEEP milk (up to 3% fat!!!) with its lovely green color. These wheels of future fromage are then transported to level 2 where the whey is removed and the mold finishes the job, turning into a very slight blueish.
It is a fact, sadly for all those hypochondriacs out there and their silly medical alarmists with advanced degrees in anti-tradition and experience, that our friend the molds and bacteria are only dangerous when out of balance with the body or are those well-known toxins found in certain fungi, etc.
Thank you for this article because it shows that you love bread and hate seeing the molds beat us to eating it. Molds LOVE good cooking and a well-made loaf.
Michelle
Hi Jacques,
Wow! Very interesting information. Thank you for sharing.
BOOTER MACKEY
I ATE ONE PIECE OF DARK WHEAT BREAD AFTER TOASTING IT. IT TASTED KIND OF STRONG BUT I DID NOT SEE ANY MOLD ON IT. I FELT SICK TO MY STOMACH ABOUT TEN MIN. AFTER AND HAD A TERRIBLE TASTE IN MY MOUTH. I MENTIONED TO MY SON AND HE LOOKED AT THE EXPIRED DATE. IT WAS 10 DAYS PAST! I NEVER HAD ANY STOMACH DISCOMFORT BUT FELT A FEW TIMES LIKE THROWING UP. I FINALLY FOUND THIS SIGHT AND READ WHAT IT DOES. I LOOKED AT THE BREAD AGAIN AND SMELLED IT AND IT DID NOT SMELL ANY DIFFERENT THEN WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I PUT A PIECE AT AN ANGLE AND LOOKED AND SAW LARGE AREAS OF A DARKER COLOR. NO GREEN SPOTTED MOLDY SIGHTS. I RINSED MY MOUTH OUT AND GARGLED WITH PURE PEROXIDE AND WATER AND THEN BRUSHED MY TEETH AND HANDS. I WAS SNEEZING AND HAD SHORTNESS OF BREATH FOR AWHILE. COULD BE FROM THE NERVES OF FINDING OUT WHAT AN IDIOTIC THING I HAD JUST DONE. IT IS VERY HARD TO SEE MOLD ON DARK WHEAT BREAD. OR WAS IT MOLD?
Michelle
HI Booter,
I hope you’re feeling better! It’s hard to say without seeing it with my own two eyes. Sometimes, we can make ourselves sick with panic, as you said. I would toss the bread and get a new batch and enjoy a fresh piece of toast!
Ella
I was just eating zucchini bread and as I was eating I noticed a tiny spur of mold, and instantly freaked out. My biggest fear is throwing up, so my mind instantly said “This is going to make you throw up” I have been researching nonstop for the last 10 minutes, and when I came across your article I felt very relieved. I also don’t think I actually ate any mold, cause I think I would have tasted it if I did. Anyway thank you so much for writing this it really put my mid at ease.
Michelle
Hi Ella,
You’re welcome. I am so glad I was able to put your mind at ease. 🙂
Sorobei
I did take a bite of bread 45 years ago it did not look moldy but it tasted moldy once it was in my mouth. I spotted it out and within minutes I went into an anaphylactic reaction because I am allergic to penicillin. I spent several days at the ER. Today same happen and I ran to brush my teeth and called my sister to alert her in case I have to return to the ER, I am now 74 and scarred. My bread was gluten free it did not look moldy. I freeze my bread since that time. I hope brushing my teeth teeth and the fact that I tried not to swallow even the saliva helps. I am strong, healthy and active and I hope everything goes well. I will keep you posted.
Michelle
Hi Sorobei,
That must have been so scary for you! I’m glad to hear that everything turned out OK. Hoping for the best this time, too. Let me know!
Sandra
Thank you so much for your very helpful iinfo.. My husband ate two slices of a small oblong fruit and nut loaf toasted arghhh. about 3 hours ago. I knew mold was not a good thing for you but you helped me not to panic with your wisdom about it and your empathy.He is feeling ok but I will watch him tonight and pray that I never miss mold again..
Michelle
Hi Sandra,
So glad I could put your mind at (somewhat) ease. I hope your husband is doing okay!
Happy baking,
Michelle
Mercy
I ate about 6 pieces of breaks without realizing it was expired because I was to stupid to realize it was…
Someone please help me, these people barely ate a bite of toast, I ate the entire thing, the 6 entire pieces of bread.
Michelle
Hi Mercy,
Was the bread expired, or molded? Hope you are going okay!
Happy baking,
Michelle
Adeeba
I did the same thing, ate 6 pieces of moldy bread and after it i realised.
In my case it wasnt expired, but molded ;-;
Michelle
Hi Adeeba,
I once ate a quesadilla with a moldy tortilla. Did not notice until halfway through. It’s not fun, is it? I hope you did not get sick! 🙂
Deb
I gave my niece a piece of pizza bun,, she. Noticed mold.on it, lucky she didn’t est it, but I had eaten most of it, I instantly panicked, so I took my anxiety medication to calm me down. I looked and saw you article, was relieved to find this article. Thank you for posting. Still feel little panicky but not as bad..
Michelle
Hi Deb,
I’m so glad I could help. You’re welcome. I hope you did not get sick! 🙂
Sydney
I recently ate a toasted slice of moldy bread, I was in a hurry and didn’t notice the mold at the time. About three hours later I had to rush to the bathroom. For the next 24 hours I was in the bathroom every 30 minutes expelling gross liquid from my bowels. My stomach was mildly nauseas and I felt weak until the next day. I had no idea I had eaten mold at the time, I just felt miserable and had no idea why. Luckily I threw one corner of the toast in the trash and my husband saw the mold on the toast and that’s how we discovered that I was feeling sick because I ate moldy bread.
Michelle
Hi Sydney,
That sounds awful. I hope you’re feeling better now, and I’m glad your husband spotted it before any more of it was eaten!
Happy baking,
Michelle
Rozzy
Can apple cider vinegar helps on this
Michelle
Apple cider vinegar has many health benefits, but I’m not sure if it would help in this situation. If you’re struggling with persisting symptoms, call your doctor right away.
Happy baking,
Michelle
Vince
I ate almost a whole hotdog bun before I realized the bottom was covered in green. I was so worried, but nothing happened. I wasn’t even a little bit nauseous. It was just like I had eat regular fresh bread. I guess mu stomach is made of steel. If I hadn’t noticed the mold with the last bite, I wouldn’t have even known. Makes me wonder how many other disgusting things I’ve accidentally eaten over the years.
Michelle
Hi Vince,
I’m so glad to hear you didn’t get sick! I did something similar with a tortilla one time, so you’re definitely not alone.
Happy baking,
Michelle
Monique Neely
Hi I did something similar and ate a hamburger bun but don’t know if it had mold on it but some of the other ones had mold on them.
Michelle
H, Monique!
Sorry to hear about that. I hope you didn’t get sick! 🙂
Barbara
Hi Michelle. Thank you for writing this article. I quickly looked on the Internet to find out what would happen. I bought a loaf of gluten free raisin bread. I was slow at eating it, so I refrigerated it. I went to get a slice this morning, and noticed it was all moldy! I was shocked, as I thought refrigeration would prevent that. But then I also thought that perhaps it molded BEFORE I put it in my refrigerator and I didn’t notice it. Anyway, I looked at all of the slices, and finally the very last piece and the heel piece at the end did not have mold, so I toasted them both and ate them!! Now I’m a little worried since I read that the ENTIRE loaf is affected, AND that toasting actually makes it worse! Oh Dear. I’ll keep you posted, but I hope I don’t get sick! Ugh! My mom used to just cut the mold off (like people do cheese), so I have a pretty immune-built up stomach! 🙂
Michelle
Hi Barbara,
I’m so sorry to hear about that, and I hope you didn’t end up getting sick! Next time, get a fresh loaf so you can feel confident and at ease eating your toast. 🙂
Happy baking,
Michelle
Julz
I recently ate some moldy bread by accident. I bought a little bun and had it for about 4 days. I came in night and had a few bites. I woke up the next day to a stomach ache and the runs. I went to finish the bread after only to realize it was all moldy. Should I be as worried as I am disgusted? Should I go to the hospital?
Michelle
Hi Julz!
Sorry to hear about that and I hope you’re feeling better. If symptoms continue or worsen, always seek out medical care.
Happy baking,
Michelle
Felix
Is there any help after eating molded food? I didn’t know is mold and I boiled a pot of soup and drank it. is there any medication? Not sick just feel little short of breath. please advice. tks
Michelle
Hi, Felix! Sorry to hear you ate mold. You should be okay, but if symptoms persist or worsen you should definitely call a doctor as treatment may be necessary.
Happy baking,
Michelle
Pomodoro
I ate a bread that has no visible mold, but smells absolutely freaking horrible. I put it in the oven for 5 minutes and realized it smells gross. After that I took a bite to make sure and yeah, it tasted horrible. After that I ate my dinner but it required bread so it was hard. However, the dinner also tasted moldy and bad like the bread too so I couldn’t finish it. It was probably because of the fact that I threw the breads in the dustbin that’s in the dining table, their smells must’ve made me think the food tastes bad. But I’m not certain, maybe the food was gone bad too. And I’ve eaten quite a bunch of it. After that I was still very hungry and I just baked some frozen chips, they tasted like shit(not in a moldy-way, I just cooked them badly) and I’m not sure eating them was the right thing to do. I also took a multivitamin pill, that was probably also wrong. I probably gave my stomach a tough time.
All that being said, reading this article made me feel awesome. I hope I have absolutely no problems of any kind in my body, and be okay with this situation. Thanks to michelle for writing this article and making people from all around the world informed about a potential situation that awaits them in life. That’s why I love humankind as a species, I really love human beings. I really hope we can build a world where everyone can be happy in a way that’s optimized. I’m going to be working really hard in the rest of my life to achieve that goal. If potential threats to my health, like mold does not compromise my brain health, I’m sure that’s going to be a possible endeavor.
Michelle
Hi, Pomodoro! You’re very welcome. I agree – we should all try to create a better world for everyone. I hope your next dinner tasted delicious!
Happy baking,
Michelle
Jackson
Is moldy bread that has a purple color dangerous?
Michelle
Yes! According to https://www.miofl.us/the-colors-of-mold/, purple mold is oftentimes dangerous as it’s associated with toxic pink mold, which produces mycotoxins that are harmful to your health. If you see purple mold on your bread, toss the entire loaf and buy or bake fresh!
Happy baking,
Michelle
Jim Haapapuro
I had cut off mold from a roll or a bun thinking it was okay then, but when I made a sandwich with it it still tasted bad ????. I had no idea that mold grows roots & spreads invisibly throughout the whole thing, that’s why it still tasted bad. I did not get sick from it nor did I get nauseated from it. Thank you for your information about moldy bread. Now I know just to throw it away.
Michelle
Hi, Jim! I’m so happy to hear you didn’t end up getting sick. I agree – toss the whole loaf and buy or bake fresh next time if you see any mold.
Happy baking,
MIchelle
Ashley
My Niece ate some bread I’m assuming was moldy she has been throwing up should I call her doctor
Angie
Hi Ashley,
Sorry to hear that! And yes, I would highly suggest so!
Take care,
Angie
Jas
How is your niece? Did she go to the doctor? My daughter is throwing up due to suspected moldy bread.
Blanca E Cintron
I but a bagel 3x before i noticed the mold 15 mnts later vomit like crazy woke up at 5am this morning o habe chills n headache n my tummy hurts but not so bad. I took my temp n it read 101.0..im asthamic n have allergis whay should i do? Should i call my doctor?
Viny
You should not worry, the asthma is related to inhaling it not eating, eat will cause you to feel sick, vomit, tummy hurt and diarrhea. If those keep on going for more than a few days (1-2) go to a doctor. First rule is to stay calm, always!
Michelle
Hi Blanca! I hope you’re feeling better. If you’re ever concerned about your health, it is always suggested to contact your doctor, especially after an event such as eating moldy bagels.
Happy baking,
MIchelle
Brian
I ate moldy bread. I shit my pants….. that was not related to eating moldy bread though.
annabel
oh.
Michelle R Keldgord
I hope you’re feeling better, Brian!
Happy baking,
MIchelle
Dana
I took a bite of moldy bread, but I spit it out once I turned it over in my hand and saw the mold lol. I was still concerned and read this article. I did not get sick =)
Michelle
Hi Dana! I’m so happy to hear you didn’t get sick.
Happy baking,
MIchelle