Eating a small amount of moldy cheese is often not dangerous for most healthy adults , but it can cause stomach upset or, less commonly, a foodborne illness. Soft, shredded, sliced, or crumbled cheeses with mold should be thrown away; hard cheeses may sometimes be salvaged by cutting away the mold and a wide margin around it.

What might happen

  • Nothing noticeable if it was a tiny amount and you’re otherwise healthy.
  • Mild food poisoning symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or cramps.
  • Allergic-type symptoms in some people, like wheezing or rash.
  • Higher risk of illness if the cheese was soft or if you have a weakened immune system.

When to be more careful

  • Throw it out if it’s soft cheese like ricotta, cream cheese, cottage cheese, or shredded/sliced cheese. Mold can spread through these more easily.
  • Hard cheese may sometimes be okay if you cut off the mold plus about an inch around it, but if it smells off or looks heavily contaminated, discard it.

Get medical help if

  • You have trouble breathing.
  • You develop severe vomiting, severe diarrhea, high fever, or dehydration.
  • You have a serious allergic reaction.
  • You’re pregnant, elderly, immunocompromised, or have a major medical condition and feel unwell after eating it.

If you want, I can also tell you whether your specific cheese is safe to cut off or should be tossed.