Fruits
The mold on the fruits in the experiment all grew at the same rate.
True or False?
False!
Strawberries grew in a much faster rate than the blueberry as it dried out.
Which cheese, in addition of developing Penicillium, also developed a gray-ish and black mold?
Manchego cheese!
Even though it wasn’t as big as the other, the dark fungi covered the bottom of the cheese.
Why can’t McDonald burgers grow mold?
Because of the presence of perservatives.
What part of the Burger King developed fungi growth?
The bread!
It was the only part of the burger that showed bacterial development, the rest stayed the same and dried out.
Which fruit dried out completely with no visible mold growth in the experiment?
A blueberry!
During the course of our experiment, the blueberry did not develop any mold whatsoever, instead, it dried out completely.What is the mold that grew in the Manchego and Oaxaca cheese?
(HINT! It is a blue color and starts with “P”).Penicillium!
These mold can also be found in blue cheese, it is the most common fungicide to grow in cheese.
The McDonald’s burger retained its original appearance and texture throughout the experiment. What does this suggest about the role of preservatives in food?
They help prevent mold growth and slow down the decomposition process.
If a food has passed its expiration date but looks fine, it’s still safe to eat.
Myth or Real?
Myth!
Expiration dates are important food safety guidelines. Eating products past their expiration date can be risky, even if the food looks okay.
If a fruit has developed fungi growth, it can still be eaten as long as you cut the affected part.
True or false.
False!
Based on our experiment, we saw that although fungi may once be visible in a certain area, the inside of the fruit can still be affected.
If food smells strange, it is always safe to throw it away.
Myth or Real?
Myth!
While a bad odor may indicate spoilage, some bacteria do not alter the smell or taste of food. You can’t always rely on smell to determine if food is safe to eat.
THINK ABOUT BLUE CHEESE!
Unlike the Burger King burger, this burger stayed malleable, with no significant mold growth, throughout the experiment.
True or False?
True!
Thanks to the use of preservatives, the burger was able to be separated and further examined.
The Burger King burger in our experiment dried out completely, forming a hard mass that couldn’t be separated. What environmental factor is likely to cause this?
Moisture loss!
In order to have mold growth, moisture, temperature and humidity are key factors. Since the burger did not have the right conditions, it dried out.