OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

Have you ever seen fuzzy green, white, or blue spots growing on a piece of old bread? That is bread mold, and it is actually a living thing! Mold is a type of fungus, just like mushrooms, but instead of growing a big cap and stem, it spreads out in tiny fuzzy threads that creep across food.

Mold spores are so tiny that millions of them float around in the air all the time, even though you cannot see them. When a spore lands on a piece of bread in a warm, damp spot, it starts to grow and munch on the bread for food. Mold can grow on lots of other foods too, like fruit, cheese, and leftovers!