A man in Zhejiang, China, returned to his hometown for the Spring Festival and accidentally left a bowl of beef rice at his company. When he returned to work and opened the company doors recently, he was hit by a strong musty smell. Upon inspection, he found that the beef rice had grown dense, hair-like black mycelium, estimated to be 15 centimeters long—a truly shocking sight.
According to "Da Xiang News," Mr. Yin, who has long operated a rosewood furniture business in Ningbo, Zhejiang, packed his bags and returned to his hometown in Chaohu, Anhui, for the Spring Festival on the 10th. However, in his rush to catch the train, he accidentally left a bowl of beef rice meant for his dog in the corner of his office.
After the holiday, Mr. Yin returned to Ningbo early on the 25th. The moment he stepped into the office, he was greeted by a strong odor. He discovered a bowl of beef rice that had become completely unrecognizable, with long, black, hair-like mold strands standing upright on top, about 15 cm long—a truly astonishing scene.
He uploaded the image online, prompting netizens to respond: “It actually looks pretty cool. Maybe it could be used as a unique ornamental bonsai,” “Post it online and you might be able to sell it,” “Hurry and sell it to scientific researchers—I’ve heard this stuff can be valuable,” “Is this a new hair growth product? Link, please,” “Can it be studied to grow black hair on humans?” Some joked that it shows the restaurant is honest and doesn't use preservatives.
Mr. Yin later told the media that he usually pays attention to hygiene, but was eager to get home for the holiday and forgot to throw away the beef rice for his dog. “This was totally an accident.”
He also explained that Ningbo is relatively humid, and with the office doors and windows tightly shut for nearly half a month, mold grew out of control. Upon discovery, he immediately donned a mask and gloves, sealed the beef rice, and disposed of it, disinfected the surrounding area, and opened the windows for ventilation. The odor in the office gradually dissipated.
Experts note that beef rice is rich in moisture, and in a warm, humid, and poorly ventilated environment, it easily becomes a “medium” for mold growth. With no one around for half a month, mold grew unchecked. The hair-like “black fur” visible in the image is actually a colony (a mass of microorganisms visible to the naked eye) formed by the rapid proliferation of mold.
Experts also advise that if you need to leave your living or work environment for an extended period, you should carefully check your surroundings, properly dispose of all leftover food (including pet feed and leftovers), and other perishable items. Also, keep the area well-ventilated and dry to effectively prevent such “accidents” from happening.
After the holiday, Mr. Yin returned to Ningbo early on the 25th. The moment he stepped into the office, he was greeted by a strong odor. He discovered a bowl of beef rice that had become completely unrecognizable, with long, black, hair-like mold strands standing upright on top, about 15 cm long—a truly astonishing scene.
He uploaded the image online, prompting netizens to respond: “It actually looks pretty cool. Maybe it could be used as a unique ornamental bonsai,” “Post it online and you might be able to sell it,” “Hurry and sell it to scientific researchers—I’ve heard this stuff can be valuable,” “Is this a new hair growth product? Link, please,” “Can it be studied to grow black hair on humans?” Some joked that it shows the restaurant is honest and doesn't use preservatives.
Mr. Yin later told the media that he usually pays attention to hygiene, but was eager to get home for the holiday and forgot to throw away the beef rice for his dog. “This was totally an accident.”
He also explained that Ningbo is relatively humid, and with the office doors and windows tightly shut for nearly half a month, mold grew out of control. Upon discovery, he immediately donned a mask and gloves, sealed the beef rice, and disposed of it, disinfected the surrounding area, and opened the windows for ventilation. The odor in the office gradually dissipated.
Experts note that beef rice is rich in moisture, and in a warm, humid, and poorly ventilated environment, it easily becomes a “medium” for mold growth. With no one around for half a month, mold grew unchecked. The hair-like “black fur” visible in the image is actually a colony (a mass of microorganisms visible to the naked eye) formed by the rapid proliferation of mold.
Experts also advise that if you need to leave your living or work environment for an extended period, you should carefully check your surroundings, properly dispose of all leftover food (including pet feed and leftovers), and other perishable items. Also, keep the area well-ventilated and dry to effectively prevent such “accidents” from happening.