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The Daily Insight

Can you get food poisoning from moldy bread?

Author

Matthew Wilson

Updated on February 28, 2026

Eating moldy bread may lead to food poisoning. Food that develops visible mold needs to thrown away to avoid food-borne illness. If you eat moldy bread, you may develop food poisoning and a headache. Food poisoning will make you feel sick to your stomach, causing diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.

What happens if I accidentally eat mold?

The short answer to the above-mentioned questions is no, you are probably not going to die from eating mould. You will digest it like any other food. As long as you have got a relatively healthy immune system, the most you will experience is some nausea or vomiting due to the taste or idea of what you have just eaten.

Can you eat bread if one piece is moldy?

For food safety experts, the answer is clear: Moldy bread is bad news. But otherwise, it should be tossed — the fact that bread is sliced is no guarantor that mold hasn’t spread. “I have seen mold spread from one slice to the next,” she says.

Is mold on bread bad for you?

For food safety experts, the answer is clear: Moldy bread is bad news. Some molds, like those used for Gorgonzola cheese, are safe to eat. But the mold dotting bread isn’t a benign source of extra fiber. Gravely says people who eat moldy food may suffer allergic reactions and respiratory problems.

What to do if you have eaten moldy bread?

Storing bread in air tight containers will slow down the mold rate. Unlike other bread, sourdough rarely molds because of its high acidity. A stomach ache is one possible result of eating moldy bread. Bakers often rely on preservatives to help keep their bread fresh. Loaf of moldy bread. Moldy bread.

What are the dangers of eating moldy bread?

The basic danger of eating moldy bread is developing a stomach ache or an allergic reaction to the mold. There are cases where mold causes mycotoxins to form within the bread, presenting significant health threats to people who ingest them. These dangerous mold growths are indiscernible from harmless ones.

What happens if you accidentally eat moldy bread?

Eating moldy foods, including bread, can be dangerous due to the fact that you could be consuming mycotoxins, or fungal poisons. Some types of mold can cause food poisoning, which can make you ill and result in stomach cramps, fever, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.

Is it bad if I accidentally ate some moldy bread?

For most people, eating bread with mold does not have alarming effects. However, in some rare cases, it can contain Mycotoxin, toxic chemicals produced by molds. These toxins could cause food poisoning if you ingest too much of them. If this happens, you could see mild to severe symptoms within a few hours. [ 1]