Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Peer-reviewed

The duality of filamentous fungi: Beneficial uses and risks in the food industry

Luana Virgínia Souza, Raiane Rodrigues da Silva, Valéria Quintana Cavicchioli, Rafaela de Melo Tavares, Cinzia Lucia Randazzo, Cinzia Caggia, Antônio Fernandes de Carvalho, Luís Augusto Nero

Food Research International · 2025

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Summary

Filamentous fungi are ubiquitous microorganisms, comprising approximately 150,000 documented species, although global estimates suggest a total diversity of 11 million species. The role of filamentous fungi in the food supply chain is complex, balancing production benefits with risks of contamination and health concerns. These fungi have both positive and negative impacts on the food industry, reflecting their duality. Historically, fungi have played a key role in the production of antibiotics, such as penicillin, and have revolutionized food production, particularly cheese manufacturing, by contributing to the development of new sensory traits. Currently, filamentous fungi are extensively used in food production for biomass, protein, acid, enzyme, pigment, and biopolymer production, and t

Source type
Peer-reviewed study
DOI
10.1016/j.foodres.2025.117191
Catalogue ID
SNmoakvfwu-kzfobh
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