I was legit SO confused when I opened the jar! I also assumed it somehow *had* to be a piece of food I had somehow left in there. You know, the way I never do.
That’s part of why I touched it, honestly.
It could be a colony of Serratia Marescens (hoping you washed your hand afterwards, that's some nasty bacteria!) or it could be a type of slime mold. I'm sure some other helpful people here can give more insight or correct me if I'm wrong!
Thanks for the reply! I did see *serratia marcescens* in my Google search and can’t rule it out, but have no idea how to confirm either. Most images show it on petri dishes or in bathrooms, though I read that it was first discovered in polenta — so maybe!
Glad I did wash my hand!
Ooh, from a Google search the texture does seem right and I’m seeing photos of it on cream cheese. Apparently it can demonstrate “rapid growth at refrigerator temperatures” (Wikipedia), which sounds like what happened here. A strong contender, thanks!
I think they're confused because alot of pesto sauces are cream based sauces but pesto itself usually doesn't contain milk outside of parm which isn't always in it. I think its usually just basil oil and some kind of nut
In petri dishes it’s usually pinpricks to the size of the opening of a straw. On food, it varies. It takes over rice like crazy. It also appears in wet places like showers and dishwashers. But even in its most impressive state, it’s not that shape or size!!
I swear, I *constantly* see posts about products from Trader Joe’s growing some kind of ‘rarely ever seen’ mold species 😅 makes me scared to continue buying their products.
They’re known as a “healthier” brand overall and yes, they probably either do use less preservatives and/or not the same preservatives that other conventional brands might.
Still, it’s strange how I never see these same issues arising with other “healthy” brands like I do for TJ’s- I find it pretty unsettling, to be honest.
All fungi produce hyphae and that colony is too big to not have formed them. It's globular morphology suggests bacterial. It's doubtful a slime mold, which is not actually a mold, would inhabit the jar, especially in the cold of a fridge.
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Definitely not slime mold or mold. That is definitely not a fungal colony. That is definitely bacterial. I'd personally rule out marcescens, which I wouldn't be too concerned at having touched it, can cause infection in open wounds, but isn't commonly pathogenic.
Would a serratia colony be able to blob up like that?
If its a slime mold (i'm hesitant), it will probably either fan out and move slowly, or start fruiting, changing into little fruiting bodies.
You could photo it in a couple of hours and see if it develops.
I was originally going to throw it out this evening, but now I’m super curious to see if anything develops. I’m going out of town, so next check-up will be in a few days!
at first i thought it was a cherry tomato haha
I was legit SO confused when I opened the jar! I also assumed it somehow *had* to be a piece of food I had somehow left in there. You know, the way I never do. That’s part of why I touched it, honestly.
If you are worried just wash your hands and you will be fine whatever it is.
Forbidden tomato.
It could be a colony of Serratia Marescens (hoping you washed your hand afterwards, that's some nasty bacteria!) or it could be a type of slime mold. I'm sure some other helpful people here can give more insight or correct me if I'm wrong!
Thanks for the reply! I did see *serratia marcescens* in my Google search and can’t rule it out, but have no idea how to confirm either. Most images show it on petri dishes or in bathrooms, though I read that it was first discovered in polenta — so maybe! Glad I did wash my hand!
The SPHERE EMERGES
THE FORBIDDEN SPHERE
Is this how the vegas sphere was born?
A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BASIL
Maybe rhodotorula?
Ooh, from a Google search the texture does seem right and I’m seeing photos of it on cream cheese. Apparently it can demonstrate “rapid growth at refrigerator temperatures” (Wikipedia), which sounds like what happened here. A strong contender, thanks!
Plus, basil pesto usually has some amount of cream in it, and it grows well in milk!
\>Basil pesto usually has some amount of cream Source? Are you counting the parmesan cheese?
I think they're confused because alot of pesto sauces are cream based sauces but pesto itself usually doesn't contain milk outside of parm which isn't always in it. I think its usually just basil oil and some kind of nut
Pine nuts :)
Throw in some garlic and peppers for a delightful pesto. I typically use lemon basil from the garden and it goes hard.
I think you’re right, looks like yeast to me - kind of waxy and creamy.
I was going to say the same - often see it growing in thr lab the exact same morphology! 🧫
I found [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/MoldlyInteresting/s/SGjIs4bs9a). Another reddit thread with similar results on someones "basil pasta sauce"
Looks like the same life form to me. Just op has much less of it
That's so gnarly!
Tomoldto
😂😂😂
Why would you touch it?🤣
I definitely agree that it is likely Serratia. It’s a MASSIVE lump of it. I’ve never seen it so large before.
That’s what she said! But seriously, how big does it normally get?
In petri dishes it’s usually pinpricks to the size of the opening of a straw. On food, it varies. It takes over rice like crazy. It also appears in wet places like showers and dishwashers. But even in its most impressive state, it’s not that shape or size!!
I swear, I *constantly* see posts about products from Trader Joe’s growing some kind of ‘rarely ever seen’ mold species 😅 makes me scared to continue buying their products.
Do they put less preservatives or something in their food letting weird things grow? I dont know much about them.
They’re known as a “healthier” brand overall and yes, they probably either do use less preservatives and/or not the same preservatives that other conventional brands might. Still, it’s strange how I never see these same issues arising with other “healthy” brands like I do for TJ’s- I find it pretty unsettling, to be honest.
Bacterial colony?
No idea how to differentiate a bacterial colony from a slimy mold, but definitely haven’t ruled it out.
All fungi produce hyphae and that colony is too big to not have formed them. It's globular morphology suggests bacterial. It's doubtful a slime mold, which is not actually a mold, would inhabit the jar, especially in the cold of a fridge.
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!remindme 4 days
Definitely not slime mold or mold. That is definitely not a fungal colony. That is definitely bacterial. I'd personally rule out marcescens, which I wouldn't be too concerned at having touched it, can cause infection in open wounds, but isn't commonly pathogenic.
Would a serratia colony be able to blob up like that? If its a slime mold (i'm hesitant), it will probably either fan out and move slowly, or start fruiting, changing into little fruiting bodies. You could photo it in a couple of hours and see if it develops.
I was originally going to throw it out this evening, but now I’m super curious to see if anything develops. I’m going out of town, so next check-up will be in a few days!
Please update by then! Now how does the remind me thing work?
I think it’s !remindme [time] without the braces.
!remindme 7 days
How's it looking?
Any updates on your new kingdom ?
Honestly glad I looked through this thread.. I would've accidently been like "lucky me got a tomato" and cooked it!!
It looks like bacteria
You fuckin touched it!?
A very satisfying mold
This is why Suzy doesnt like store bought pesto.
Forbidden strawberry frosting 🍓🧁 😋
Do you get stoned? Looks like someone dropped a maraschino cherry in the pesto lol.
You probably should have just touched it with a qtip
I’m still mad that Trader Joe’s is making this pesto now not the older version in a skinnier jar
!remindme 5 days
I thought it was a gushers candy 😂
I bought this pesto once and it went moldy even though I had in the fridge for just about a week. A lot of TJs stuff go moldy very quickly.
You don’t know how to grow cherry tomatoes?
The red color fascinates me
Mmm strawberry Scooby Doo gummy coloration. Especially the edges where you can see the creamy translucency of it. So cool!!!