National Moldy Cheese Day - Should I throw the Cheese Away?

Mold on soft cheeses, such as cottage cheese, cream cheese, and ricotta cheese should be discarded.  The same is true for any kind of cheese that shreds, crumbles, or slices. With these cheeses, the mold can send filaments throughout the cheese. In addition, harmful bacteria, such as listeria, brucella, salmonella, and E. coli, can grow along with the mold.

Mold generally can't penetrate far into hard and semisoft cheeses, such as cheddar, Colby, Parmesan, and Swiss. So you can cut away the moldy part and eat the rest of the cheese. Cut off at least 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) around and below the moldy spot. Be sure to keep the knife out of the mold so it doesn't contaminate other parts of the cheese.

Not all molds pose a risk. In fact, some types of mold are used to make cheeses, such as Brie and Camembert. These molds are safe to eat.

If you're not sure what type of cheese you have or what to do if it grows mold, the safe course is to discard it.

Resource

If a piece of cheese has mold growing on it, should I throw the cheese away? Mayo Clinic Katherine Zeratsky, #RDN

Do You Know What's On Your Kitchen Sponge?

One of the most dangerous sources of virulent bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and others, is the kitchen sponge and 'dish cloths' in American homes.

Ways To Clean Your Kitchen Sponge or Dish Cloth

1. Wet the sponge well and microwave it on high for about 2 minutes. Be careful a dry sponge can catch on fire.

2. Wash it in the hot cycle of your washing machine and leave them there through a drying cycle.

3. Clean the sponge and sanitize it in a diluted bleach solution (1 tablespoon of bleach added to 1 gallon of water) before using a second time.

4. Replace worn sponges rather than reusing.

5. Avoid using your kitchen sponge to wipe up raw eggs, meat juice and other food items typically high in harmful bacteria. If you do use your sponge for such purposes, wash and disinfect it immediately afterward.

6. Clean your sponge after each use.


Resources.
Eat Right. Dos and Don'ts of Kitchen Sponge Safety
Home Food Safety. How Safe is Your Kitchen?