Is there any red mold?

Created: 12/22/2021, 4:53 PM

By: Janine Napirca

In addition to black, white, and green, there is also red mold.

© Millenius / Imago

Have you spotted red mold on foods like yogurt or butter?

Caution: red mold can be dangerous.

The so-called

is

responsible for

such as baked goods

However, there are other reddish types of mold that can be found in walls, for example.

Learn what types of mold are red and how to

.

Where does red mold appear?

Red mold is often associated with black, white, gray, and / or green mold. It doesn't have to be bright red. Sometimes red mold is more

,

,

or

. The consistency of red mold can also vary. Sometimes it's

or

, sometimes

or even

. Red spots that look like mold can also be other fungi or bacteria in certain cases. For example, the bacterium

is occasionally found on bread. The slime

(brick-red stem slime mold) and

 (rust-colored stick slime mold) grow mainly outdoors, sometimes inside buildings on rotten wood.

Slime molds like to grow on rotten wood.

© Susan Robinson / Imago

Also read

How does red mold develop?

Without a precise analysis in the laboratory, it is hardly possible to determine what type of mold red mold is.

Because there are different molds that are responsible for red mold:

• Neurospora crassa

  : grows on baked goods such as bread, as well as on cereals such as corn or wheat. This red mold is therefore colloquially also called

  baker

  's mold. Neurospora crassa can also be found on other foods such as meat and fruit. Since it does not produce dangerous mycotoxins, it is used in West Java to ferment soybeans, coconut and cassava, for example. You may know the

  Oncom

  court .

• Aspergillus versicolor

  : occurs especially in a damp environment, such as after water damage.

  The gray owes its Latin name, which means colorful in German, to its unusual color variation.

  If it looks more white or yellow at the beginning, it changes color over time from orange to red and pink to green.

• Fusarium oxysporum

  /

  Fusarium proliferatum

  :

  show a reddish to purple or pink color in certain growth phases.

  They live as parasites on plants, fruits or vegetables.

  In contrast to other types of mold, animals in particular carry on the Fusarium spores.

Also interesting

Is red mold dangerous?

Just like other types of mold, i.e. black mold, white mold or green mold, red mold can also be dangerous. For example, Fusarium and Aspergillus can

and

in immunocompromised people

. In addition, red mold is said to promote

.

Even if Neurospora crassa does not produce toxic mycotoxins, as mentioned earlier, you should be careful with foods with red mold.

Different molds can occur at the same time and without an examination you cannot determine which red mold it is exactly.

Throw away food that has been infected with red mold and clean red mold-infected walls thoroughly.

This is how to avoid pathogenic spores in the air.

What can be done against red mold?

infected with red mold

can simply be

disposed of

in

waste. You

should also

and dispose of

affected by red mold

. Small mold stains on the walls can be

removed

with

,

or

. However, if there is a large amount of mold, you should definitely consult an

.

If there is

red mold

in your

in the bathroom or kitchen, action also applies.

Treating the joints with mold remover is not enough.

You should completely peel off the elastic material,

the

and then reapply the joint sealant.

This is the best way to ensure that the red mold does not return.

Also read

How can you prevent red mold?

As with other types of mold,

the cause of

red mold

. To prevent red mold, you should therefore

at least

to allow the humidity in your apartment to escape. You should ventilate consistently and regularly, especially in the kitchen and bathroom. Because the water vapors generated when cooking or showering increase the humidity in the room enormously. A proper supply of fresh air is therefore essential to avoid red mold in the apartment.

If you want to

prevent

red mold on food such as bread or other

, you should

.

On the one hand, the bread dries out in it, and on the other hand, the resulting moisture cannot escape from the plastic bag.

It is therefore better to use a bread bin to store your baked goods, to keep them fresher for longer and to protect them from red mold.

 *