How to Tell If Your Medjool Dates Have Mold—and When to Throw Them Out

As off-putting as it might seem, it’s quite common to find that your Medjool dates have gone moldy.

You might notice mold growing on or inside the dates once they’ve started to spoil. Fruits like dates are prone to black mold, specifically because of a fungus called Aspergillus niger . Other types of fungus can also affect dates.

A moist, sugary, warm environment is ideal for fungus, so dates—especially if they’re not dried and properly stored—are an ideal home for mold.

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Do You Really Have to Throw Out That Expired Food?

Spoiled food can give you symptoms of food poisoning . Children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of complications if they eat moldy fo