Is it safe to eat tomato sauce with mold on the lid?

In this brief article, we will provide you with the answer to the question: “Is it safe to eat tomato sauce with mold on the lid?”, discuss what can happen if you eat moldy food, and share some tips to avoid mold growing in your food.

Is it safe to eat tomato sauce with mold on the lid?

No, it is not safe to eat tomato sauce with mold on the lid. Even if you are not seeing mold inside the can, there is a great risk of the sauce being already contaminated with mold, its spores and its toxins.

It is recommended to discard any food that contains mold (1) (or foreign mold, in the case of a food that should naturally contain mold, such as Roquefort and Camembert cheeses, which is inoculated by fungi) (6).

The ingestion of fungal toxins can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and also liver disease, cancer and damage to the kidney. Some mycotoxins are mutagenics, as they are able to interact with the DNA (3).

What are the risks of eating moldy tomato sauce?

The risks of eating moldy tomato sauce can cause diarrhea, respiratory allergies, immune dysfunctions and diseases such as cancer. Fungal toxins can lead to damage of the liver and kidney and birth defect, in the case of pregnant women who are exposed to fungal toxins (2,3).

Is all mold in food harmful?

No, not all mold that grows in food is harmful. Some foods are produced with the use of molds. 

For example cheeses like blue, Gorgonzola, Brie, and Camembert, which contain specific strains from filamentous fungi, P. camemberti and hams, which contain fungal strains responsible for flavor development and ripening – all of which are completely safe to eat (6).

Fermented soy foods, such as miso and tempeh are elaborated by the application of the molds Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus and Neurospora to soy and wheat.

In addition, many species of mushrooms, which are also molds, are edible and nutritious (2,6).

However, even these foods that are produced with the use of molds can be contaminated by foreign molds. 

What are the signs that mold grows in your tomato sauce?

The following signs indicate that your tomato sauce is possibly contaminated by mold (4): 

  • Presence of a visible growth, rots and discoloration, such as blue mold rot, gray mold rot, and brown rot
  • Growth of fuzzy white colonies on the surface
  • Generation of off-odors and off-flavors, such as musty, earthy and rot
  • Changes in color or texture of the sauce

How to avoid mold from growing in the tomato sauce?

To avoid mold growth in the tomato sauce, you should follow recommendations for good food handling and safety as well as high personal hygiene practices while cooking and manipulating the tomato sauce (7).

You should also store the tomato sauce correctly and follow the recommended shelf life. By any sign of spoilage of the tomato sauce, it is recommended to discard the food, to avoid spreading of the microorganisms to other foods or contaminating your refrigerator.

It is important to keep your refrigerator clean, to use clean utensils and to store food in closed containers or wrapped by foil, to avoid contamination by air.

How to store tomato sauce?

To store unopened canned tomato sauce, place it in a cool and dry place in the pantry away from heat sources and away from sunlight. The ideal temperature of the pantry is between 50 and 70°F (5).

After opening the jar or can, transfer the sauce to an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator or freezer. In the case of homemade tomato sauce leftovers, store it within 2 hours after cooking the sauce in the refrigerator or freezer.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we provided you with the answer to the question: “Is it safe to eat tomato sauce with mold on the lid?”, discussed what can happen if you eat moldy food, and shared some tips to avoid mold growing in your food.

References

  1. How should you handle food that has mold on it? United States Department of Agriculture.
  2. Molds on foods: are they dangerous? United States Department of Agriculture. 
  3. Bryden, Wayne L. Mycotoxins in the food chain: human health implications. Asia Pacific j clin nutr, 2007, 16, 95-101.  
  4. Sperber, William H. Introduction to the microbiological spoilage of foods and beverages. Compendium of the microbiological spoilage of foods and beverages. 2009.  
  5. Van Laanen, Peggy. Safe home food storage. Texas Farmer Collection. 200.
  6. Chávez, Renato, et al. Mold-fermented foods: Penicillium spp. as ripening agents in the elaboration of cheese and meat products. Mycofactories. Emirate of Sharjah, UAE: Bentham Science Publisher. 2011.
  7. Food safety basics. United States Department of Agriculture. 

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