You bite into a juicy, ripe peach — golden flesh, sweet aroma, summer in your mouth.
You pop out the pit.
And there it is.
A patch of white, fuzzy, or web-like substance clinging to the crevice of the pit.
Your brain freezes.
“Is this mold?”
“Did I just eat something bad?”
“Should I call a doctor?”
Take a breath.
The good news?
In most cases, this white stuff is not dangerous — and it’s not mold.
Let’s explore what it really is, when it’s safe, and when you should be cautious.
🧪 What the White Stuff Actually Is – It’s Not Mold (Usually)
The white substance you’re seeing is most likely cottony leak — a natural condition caused by a yeast-like fungus called Pichia membranifaciens.
But don’t panic.
This isn’t the same as mold on bread or fruit rot.
It’s a non-pathogenic yeast that sometimes grows in the moist crevices of peach pits — especially when peaches are stored in humid conditions or kept too long.
Key Features of Cottony Leak:
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