Household Mold vs. Food Mold

One common question that people ask about mold is if the mold that grows on your food is the same as the mold that grows in your home. The answer isn't quite a simple yes or no. There are over 100,000 different species of mold. Not all food mold is the same type of mold, and neither is the mold growing in buildings. Keep reading to learn about the similarities and differences between food mold and household mold.

Food Mold 


You see something green and fuzzy on your food and your first instinct is to throw it away. Mold on food is rarely a good thing. Mold spores are in the air all the time, and when one falls on a piece of food, it searches for water and nutrients to feed off of. As the spore takes root, it begins to multiply and spread quickly on the surface. Food mold feeds itself by releasing chemicals that break down the food, making it rot. In some cases, mold can form in a matter of 12-24 hours. Other times it can take weeks. Not all food mold is the same type of mold though. One mold that grows on lemons is like a blue-green powder. One that grows on strawberries is a grayish-white fuzz. Mold on bread commonly looks like a white cottony fuzz at first that later turns to green or black colored spots. Alternaria, Aspergillus, Botrytis, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Monilia, Manoscus, Mortierella, Mucor, Neurospora, Oidium, Oosproa, Penicillium, Rhizopus and Thamnidium are all common types of mold found on food. 

Household Mold 


The mold you find in your home develops when those mold spores in the air find a place to thrive, a high-moisture area of your home. That's why moisture control is so important for mold prevention. Basements and attics, as well as bathrooms and laundry room, are common areas where mold can form due to the high levels of moisture in those areas. Mold can grow on surfaces, such as walls, floors and other porous surfaces. Typically, this develops as black spots. Unfortunately, household mold is not always visible as it can grow behind the walls undetected as well. Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria are all common indoor molds. While less common, Stachybotrys chartarum can also be found in buildings and homes.

What's the Difference? 


So are these green fuzzy spots and the black spots on the wall the same thing? They're both mold, right? Typically, the mold that grows on your food is quite different than the mold that grows on surfaces of your home. However, in some cases, if a piece of moldy food is left out, the mold can transfer from the food to the household surface it's touching. The mold on food can also become airborne again and become lodged in your air ducts and ventilation system. 

Mold Remediation & Removal 


When it comes to mold, there's really no way to know what kind it is without testing - and it does't really matter what species it might be, you want to get rid of any mold that you find in your home, whether it's on food or on a surface of your home. When mold has taken over walls, floors or other surfaces in your home, it's time to call in the professionals at Catalyst Mold Solutions. Our Cape Coral mold company is here for all your household mold needs, from testing to removal and prevention. 

Catalyst Mold Solutions: Your Permanent Solution to Mold! 


Catalyst Mold Solutions
1217 Cape Coral Parkway East
Cape Coral, FL 33904
Phone: 866-343-6653

Location: Cape Coral, FL, USA

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