Finding a moldy piece of produce creates a familiar kitchen gamble, but the risk depends on what's growing and what it's growing on, experts say.

A recent survey out of Germany found that nearly one in three people cut mold off food before eating the rest, a habit that may not remove all toxins.

Fewer than half of respondents knew that cooking or baking does not destroy mycotoxins, which are produced by certain molds and can be invisible in foods. More than a quarter thought heat could destroy them, while another quarter were unsure. 

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The survey, which was conducted by Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, measured reported habits and knowledge, not toxin levels in food or illness.

The report highlighted the limits of relying on sight to judge food safety. 

"Visible mold is reliably recognized and triggers intuitive avoidance," the authors wrote. "But this instinct does not work when food contains toxins without visible mold."

But what to do about moldy food really depends on the item, according to Brian Labus, an infectious disease epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Public Health.

People often confuse ordinary spoilage with the kinds of germs that cause foodborne illness, he told Fox News Digital.

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"Most of the stuff that we're talking about, especially with fruits and vegetables, it's not going to be something that's going to cause a foodborne illness," Labus said. "Those things are gross, but they're not the kind of thing that's going to make you sick."

Firmness is a useful guide when deciding what to do with visible mold, Labus said. 

On a firm fruit such as an apple, he said, mold may remain near the surface, so a person can cut around the affected area. On soft, wet foods, mold can spread more easily through the food. 

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If lettuce or other produce has become mushy, he said, it should be thrown away.

With berries, discard any pieces with visible mold or soft spots, Labus said. Other berries that remain intact and show no signs of mold can be washed and eaten. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidance similarly advises throwing out moldy fruit and any pieces touching it, then washing the rest if they show no mold and are not overly mushy.

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Bread is different, Labus said, because mold can grow into the loaf. If mold appears on a slice, he recommends throwing out the bread rather than removing only the visibly affected part. Germany's risk assessment agency recommends discarding moldy, water-rich produce.

Moldy jam or jelly should also be discarded, Labus said.

Some molds can trigger allergic reactions, and certain molds produce mycotoxins, according to the USDA.

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But if you accidentally eat something moldy, Labus said not to panic.

"It's not like you need to run to the doctor or anything like that," he said. "Spit it out and move on with your day."

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People with mold allergies should avoid taking chances with moldy food, while those who are immunocompromised should be especially cautious with food handling overall, Labus said.

Labus also recommends keeping food refrigerated and buying only what you'll use soon — rather than stocking up on a wholesale-size container of berries.

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Washing hands and preventing cross-contamination in the kitchen are more important food safety steps, Labus added. For example, he said, using the same knife on raw chicken and then on vegetables without washing it can spread illness-causing germs.

Cavities aren't the only Halloween candy hazard — many sweets can cause a fright to teeth and dental work even in adults, a dentist warns.

Hard sweets can crack a tooth, while sticky treats can pull out dental work, potentially turning a trick-or-treat haul into an expensive dental visit, according to Dr. Marc Lazare, a New York City dentist who has practiced for nearly 30 years and focuses on biomimetic dentistry.

But Lazare isn't trying to spook people. 

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"I'm never going to be the dentist who says, 'Don't enjoy Halloween. Don't have candy,'" he told Fox News Digital. "I love Halloween."

It's all about moderation, he said.

As a dentist, he said he evaluates candy by how it could damage teeth: "Can it harm the enamel? Can it contribute to decay and cavities? Can it pull out a filling or a crown? Can it crack a tooth?" 

People with fillings, posts, crowns, existing cracks or teeth weakened by grinding are particularly vulnerable, he noted.

Hard sweets can force people to crunch down, which may crack or split a tooth, especially one that has already been restored, Lazare said.

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"Anything where you have to force a crunch is not good," he said.

Super-sticky candies and caramels can cling to teeth and pull out fillings or crowns. Chewy sweets can get stuck between teeth, prolonging sugar exposure and what Lazare called an "acid attack."

Sour candy can also expose enamel to acid, he warned. He recommended avoiding snacking throughout the day to help limit acid exposure.

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Candy isn't the only Halloween treat that can haunt your teeth, Lazare noted. While raisins are often seen as a healthier alternative for trick-or-treaters, they can stick to teeth and also contribute to prolonged acid exposure. 

"Raisins are probably one of the worst things you can have for your teeth," he said.

Lazare said his treat recommendation would be chocolate, which melts and dissolves quickly. Dark chocolate is best, he said, because it tends to be lower in sugar than other candy, but beware of fillings like raisins and toffee in that chocolate.

If you do indulge in some Halloween candy, Lazare said, some easy tips can help mitigate the damage.

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Rinse with water and wait about an hour before brushing because acid can temporarily soften tooth enamel and brushing immediately may increase wear. Then maintain your regular brushing and flossing routine. 

Sugar-free gum can also help clear food from teeth and get saliva flowing, Lazare said.

If a crown or other restoration comes out, "don't panic," he said. "Stop chewing on that side, save any crown or restoration that comes off, and contact your dentist promptly. Never try to reattach it with household glue."

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Anyone experiencing severe pain, swelling or significant bleeding should "seek urgent dental care," he said.

Some restorations may be reusable, depending on their condition.

The main goal, Lazare said, is prevention, a central tenet of his biomimetic approach, which focuses on preserving natural tooth structure for the long term. 

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"We want to prevent damage rather than have to repair it," he said.