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Mold is an organism that is present is most places,
outdoors and indoors. Mold is a type of fungus that
works to break down dead material and return nutrients
to the environment. Mold grows by digesting plant or
animal matter, such as leaves, wood, paper, dirt, and
food. Mold spreads by releasing tiny, lightweight spores
that travel through the air. Mold grows quickly in moist
dark spaces, such as basements, garbage cans, and piles
of rotting leaves.
On
food, mold often is visible on the food's surface, such
as the fuzzy green spots that appear on bread. However,
molds also have branches and roots. As it grows, the
mold's roots can penetrate deep inside the food, where
it cannot be seen.
All
of us are exposed to some mold every day with no bad
effects. We may breathe in mold spores that are present
in the air or eat foods in which mold has begun to grow.
People with mold allergies, however, may have a reaction
if exposed to too much of the fungus.
What
Are the Symptoms?
Symptoms
of a mold reaction are those typical of many other allergies.
They include:
Wheezing
Stuffy or runny nose
Itchy, watery eyes
Rash or hives
If you have a mold allergy, avoiding all exposure to
mold may not be possible. However, you can reduce your
risk of reaction by choosing your foods carefully. Check
all foods for signs of mold before you eat them. However,
do not smell foods to see if they are spoiled. Inhaling
mold spores can set off an allergic reaction. In addition,
you can avoid foods that are more likely to contain
mold or other fungi, such as mushrooms and yeast.
Common
food sources of mold include:
Cheese
Mushrooms
Vinegar and foods containing vinegar, such as salad
dressing, catsup, and pickles
Sour cream, sour milk, and buttermilk
Beer, wine, brandy, gin, vodka, rum, and whiskey
Ginger ale and root beer
Meat or fish more than 24 hours old
Sour breads, such as pumpernickel, and other food made
with yeast
Sauerkraut
Pickled and smoked meats and fish
Dried fruits such as dates, prunes, figs, and raisins
Soy sauce, tofu
Tea
Chocolate
Dried spices
Reviewed
by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of
Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine.
Edited
by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, Feb. 2004, WebMD.
Portions
of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004
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