Fungi, their applications in food, along with their deleterious effects

• Author Details:   
• Swikriti Mondal
• Sayan Bhattacharyya ^*

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Fungi, a diverse kingdom of eukaryotic organisms, play a complex and vital role in the food ecosystem. They can be morphologically classified as yeasts, yeast-like fungi, molds and dimorphic fungi. In fact, fungi are very important in the filed of food microbiology. These organisms range from microscopic yeasts and molds to familiar mushrooms that are used as food. Their influence on food spans from essential contributions to culinary practices , to applications in biotechnology and harmful spoilage and toxin production. Understanding the dual nature of fungi is therefore crucial for leveraging their full benefits while minimizing risks.