Mold on CBD flowers: how to recognize and avoid it

As you're probably aware, the CBD industry is operating in somewhat murky waters. Following the authorization for its sale granted by the European Court of Justice, French legislation seems to be struggling to encompass all aspects of this rapidly evolving sector.

As a friend says: CBD is the Wild West!

Taking advantage of the lack of legislation and regulation, many unscrupulous sellers and suppliersdo not hesitate to provide products of dubious quality.

Improperly stored or cured flowers lose their quality. Worse, mold develops ! This can be a real health problem. Read this article to learn more about mold, the dangers it poses, and how to avoid it by choosing your CBD flowers correctly.

What is mold?

What we call "mold" are microorganisms that play a role in the fermentation and decomposition of organic matter. These organisms develop rapidly in humid environments.

Eventually, these microscopic organisms, invisible to the naked eye, develop and multiply, forming spots and/or foam of different colors.

What types of mold can develop on CBD flowers?

The molds that most often develop on CBD flowers are:

Aspergillus:

It's a type of filamentous fungus. A colony appears as a white, downy substance. They're everywhere, all around us. There are generally between 1 and 20 spores per cubic meter of air. So, without realizing it, we inhale an average of 10 to 30 of them every day!

Penicillium:

The Penicillium family is better known than others. It comprises nine species, not all of which are harmful to humans. For example, there isPenicillium glaucum, from which penicillin (the famous antibiotic that has saved billions of lives) was developed. This family also includes the well-known Penicillium roqueforti, which forms the dark spots on Roquefort cheese, and Penicillium camembertii, which forms the white rind of Camembert.

Cladosporium:

Much less appealing than Penicillium and smaller than Aspergillus, Cladisporium is also a fungus. It grows almost exclusively on plant matter, whether living or dead, and is generally the one that develops on fruits such as lemons. Colonies develop as slightly fuzzy, olive-green, brown, or black spots.

Alternaria:

This group comprises approximately 300 species. They are known as plant diseases. They primarily attack seeds. Some are parasitic, and some are more dangerous than others. But virtually all of them can cause respiratory allergies in humans.

These molds are the most commonly found in the environment. They travel as spores carried by the wind until they find a surface offering the nutrients and conditions necessary for their growth.

 

 

Conditions for mold growth

The molds that develop on CBD flowers are all different, but they are all types of fungi. The conditions favorable to their growth are more or less the same for each of them:

• Humidity and ventilation : you've probably noticed this in your bathroom if you live in a small apartment in a big city: mold loves enclosed, humid and poorly ventilated places.
• Temperature : heat also plays a role in the development of molds and bacteria of all kinds, which is why food keeps better in the fridge.
• Light : Direct light slows the growth of fungi and mold, but it also degrades the flowers, their colors, and in the case of CBD, their cannabinoids!

For all these reasons, it's always recommended to store your CBD flowers in a sealed container, away from light and moisture. This prevents spores from coming into contact with your flowers and developing!

 

 

The Impact of Mold on the Quality of CBD Flowers

As you might expect, the presence of mold on CBD flowers will directlyimpact their quality, potency, and flavor. The growth of microscopic fungi alters the structure of the trichomes, where cannabinoids and terpenes are concentrated.

This leads to a significant drop in CBD levels and can alter the profile of other cannabinoids, such as CBG or CBN, thus reducing the desired effects. Mold also causes premature oxidation, which will alter the aromas and negate some of the beneficial properties of terpenes, such as the anti-inflammatory effect of myrcene or the energizing power of limonene. In addition to the chemical impact, the texture of the flowers also changes: they become sticky, spongy, or powdery, a sign of advanced decomposition.

Health risks

As you've probably gathered, there are countless forms corresponding to each family of bacteria. And while some are more dangerous than others, we coexist with them every second of our lives without any problems. However, when all the conditions are right, they multiply and concentrate, and that's when they can become dangerous to us, particularly when we inhale or ingest them. Depending on the specific mold species and concentration, they can cause:

• Gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea)
• Respiratory problems
• Allergic reactions (skin rashes, itching, sneezing)
• Neurological problems (nervous system discheckouts, memory problems, headaches, dizziness)

Furthermore, it should be noted that heat, combustion (prohibited in the case of CBD), and vaporization do not change the potential health risks associated with consuming flowers corrupted by mold.

How to recognize and avoid buying moldy CBD flowers?

Discover our CBD flowers

Identifying flowers infected with mold can be tricky. The only method readily available to everyone is visual inspection, as fungal colonies become visible once they reach a certain stage. You'll recognize a light white, black, or gray fuzz, or spots of the same colors.

But the main problem is recognizing healthy flowers before buying them. If you buy your CBD online because it's often better quality and cheaper, it can be difficult to know the product's quality before receiving it.

The easiest way is to find a reputable retailer you can trust. Here are a few tips that might help you find one:

• Check your reseller's website reviews on Google and Trustpilot
• Make sure the seller provides sufficient information about the CBD flowers you intend to buy. If in doubt, don't hesitate to contact them to learn more about the flowers' origin, harvest date, packaging, and storage methods.
• Check the price of CBD flowers or resin. Because price is often – but not always – an indicator of quality. As they say, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Now that you know all about it, all that's left is to put your knowledge into practice by inspecting your flowers and impress your friends with your expertise! Don't hesitate to browse our blog for plenty of other useful andusaabout CBD!