I just got home from the store and opened this expensive block of cheddar to make dinner. There is a small spot of green fuzz on the corner, but the rest of the block looks completely fine. Do I just

The USDA provides guidelines for food safety that include recommendations for handling moldy cheese. For hard cheeses like cheddar, the USDA advises cutting away the moldy part with a margin of at least 1 inch around it. For soft cheeses, the recommendation is to discard the entire product if mold is present.

These guidelines are based on the potential for mold to penetrate soft cheeses and the relatively low risk when trimming hard cheeses. Following these recommendations helps ensure that you minimize health risks while reducing food waste.