Hasta La Gadget!

Summer is here and that means we’re all probably going to be eating a lot more fresh fruit, as so many beloved options come into season. We’re talking strawberries, raspberries and blueberries, as well as peaches, plums and blackberries. But all this fresh produce also means that we’re going to be coming across a lot more moldy fruit.

As fruit starts to go bad, mold is almost inevitable. But before you start throwing everything out at the first sign of a little mold, hold tight. 

We reached out to the USDA and talked to Marianne H. Gravely, senior technical information specialist on the food safety education staff at the USDA, and asked about the dangers of eating moldy produce  (and how to handle mold when we see it). 

What happens if we eat moldy fruit?

Most of us don’t intentionally eat moldy produce, but it can happen without realizing. 

“If you accidentally eat a piece of fruit with mold, nothing is going to happen,” Gravely told HuffPost. “Don’t worry about it. Most people won’t get sick from eating moldy foods. Of course, some people are more sensitive than others. If you develop symptoms or if you became ill, for most people, any illness at all would be temporary. But if you develop nausea that lasts more than a day, see a doctor. But for most, any gastrointestinal upset would be transient.”

What’s the best way to handle moldy produce?

Sometimes the answer to this question is easy. If a peach is completely soft and covered in mold, don’t eat it. But what about a piece of fruit that only has one spot that’s gone bad? Or what about the rest of the strawberries in a box that were sitting next to a moldy berry?

“It’s fine. What I tell people is just to look at all the other berries. Sometimes it’s just dust that’s touching it ― that’s fine, wash it off ― but sometimes there are berries that are kind of clumped or stuck together by the mold ― toss those,” Gravely said.

“It is true that mold has branches and roots that will penetrate the food, so you have to use judgements on how soft it is. The softer the food, the easier it is for roots to penetrate,” Gravely elaborated.  “Big strawberries, for example, you can cut off the moldy part ― a healthy margin. But if it’s all soft, don’t eat it.”

The best practice for eating fresh produce is to wash it with water first (stay tuned for a caveat!). This way you’ll get a good look at the fruit or vegetable you’re about to eat and will be able to identify soft or moldy spots easily. If you are washing produce with a tougher skin on it, rub it with a brush.

And here’s the aforementioned caveat: If you bought berries, don’t wash them until ready to use. Water will actually cause them to grow spoil.

Happy summer produce season!

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Adele visited London’s fire-devastated Grenfell Tower site Wednesday night, according to multiple reports.

The “Hello” singer was spotted comforting people at a vigil after at least 17 died and dozens were hospitalized when flames consumed the apartment building, the Telegraph reported.

In one photo, the pop star is clearly wiping away tears.

Drop4Drop foundation founder and CEO Simon Konecki joined his famous wife for the Grenfell Tower visit, witnesses on social media said.

Fan account Adele Union said the singer asked if anyone needed help and was “going around and hugging everyone she could to comfort them,” HuffPost UK reported.

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The annual Congressional Baseball Game between Democrats and Republicans will go on despite Wednesday’s shooting at a GOP practice for the event, which left six injured. 

But there’s a growing call for Thursday’s game to be played a little differently this year.

Instead of having the two parties play each other, as tradition holds, many people would like to see the teams mix rosters to show they’re all really on the same side: America.  

Michael Morris of the conservative CNSNews.com is one of the leading voices backing the gesture. 

“[I]n a show of true statesmanship, true leadership, perhaps Democrats and Republicans should come together, mix the teams for the big game and play united as one in an effort to begin the healing process for an undeniably divided America,” he wrote. 

Many on Twitter shared similar sentiments throughout the day:

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