Monilia

Monilia is the former name for the genus Candida, the group of yeasts that includes Candida albicans. In food contexts, Candida species are common spoilage organisms of high-sugar and acidic products such as fruit juices, jams, soft drinks, salad dressings, and fermented vegetables, where they cause off-flavors, gas, turbidity, and surface films. Some species are also used deliberately in fermentations, for example in certain dairy and cocoa fermentations. The name change reflects modern taxonomy based on genetic analysis, but older literature, some industry references, and medical texts still use Monilia, so food professionals encounter both names.