Hello all,

Working with a new to me base for a lure. Some I preserved fresh with sodium benzoate and methyl paraben, the rest I wanted to age a bit. Before the smell changed at all (about a week) it started growing mold. Never having used MP before, how does it affect the aging process? I know SB is a full blown preservative, what about MP?

I recall reading somewhere on here, maybe by Bob Jameson?, about pouring a solution of MP over a base to keep mold off the top but allow the rest to age, anyone ever try something like that?

Thanks in advance.

mp is also a preservative

You can dissolve some MP in some warm water and put it into a spray bottle. Spray the mixture onto the top of your material as well as spraying the interior sides of the container above the base. Good idea to spray the lid interior as well.

Lightly scrape off the mold prior to spraying the mixture onto the aging material.

Thank you Bob, that's very helpful. Do you use this to correct a problem batch or is it something you can do proactively with a material you suspect will mold but you still want to age?

Pure organic meat, tissue and glandular materials are all subject to mold development on the surface, sides and the lids of the container if left undisturbed for a period of time. The air contact surface areas are prime breeding grounds for bacteria development and mold growth if the material is virgin and no measure of preservation or some type of mold control has been added.

Hot spots ( air pockets within your batch ) can develop within a container also at times if it is left unstirred or agitated in some manner to disrupt the growth.

If conditions exist such as favorable warmer temps and higher humidity environment the mold and bacteria growth will be accelerated if it is prone in that material. Mold growth is a natural biological reaction of a material when exposed to certain container conditions.

Surface treatment with a MP solution will control the surface mold growth nicely and not affect the lower level aging material. This will prevent some product loss due to the mold that should be removed so as not to contaminate the remaining batch if stirred at some point.

Correcting the problem batch can be done with this method of surface treatment with the MP solution following the steps I have suggested.

Being pro active is a good practice to carry out if you have encountered this problem with a similar situation in prior batches or base materials. Having taken preventive measures will allow you to not worry about such things happening in the future.

Label all your batches with start dates and materials added at the time of containing the product and if it was treated with a mold retardant as discussed.

Each time you work the batch make a log and attach it to your container as to what you did and date it each time this is done.

Thank you again Bob, that's very helpful.