When to worry about the mold

When it comes to possibly dirty food, the five-second rule seems reasonable: If you drop an item on the floor, you can still eat it as long as you have snatched it back up within five seconds. The exceptions are if you have pets, a plate or glass has broken along with the wine it contained, or an item capable of adherence (like pizza) has landed face-down.

But moldy food seems to get to the root of our dirty-food tolerance. For some, mold is a food’s one-way ticket to the trash. Others just scrape off the corner to basically eat around the spots. Make Magazine highlights the debate between one husband and wife.

Now, in defense of their stance, either side can quote the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has released a comprehensive review of how mold appears on food, what you can eat and what you should discard.