Don’t worry – this white coating is not usually mold, but a completely natural phenomenon in sugar-rich, untreated dried fruit such as figs, dates or apricots. This is so-called crystallized fruit sugar, which occurs when the fruit ripens over time. The concentrated sugar from the inside of the fruit comes to the surface and forms a fine, white layer. This sometimes looks like mold, but is actually a sign of quality and a sign of the high, natural sugar content of untreated fruit. This does not affect the quality or edibility of the fruit – quite the opposite!