Re: What causes food spoilage?

Dear Meredith -

Microbal contamination of foodstuffs with bacteria, yeasts or fungi is one common cause of food spoilage. The microbes digest sugars, proteins and fats to produce an unpleasant smell or taste that we associate with spoiled food. Or you occasionally pick up that old loaf of bread to notice that it's covered with fuzzy critters - another good indication that it's time to go shopping.

However, food can spoil even in the absence of microbial colonization. The rancid odor and flavor of butter is commonly caused by the oxidation of fats with oxygen in the air. You can notice the effects of O2 on food by watching apples and bananas turn brown after they are cut.

You can learn more by runing a search for food spoilage at any of the WWW search engines.

Cheers..

-L. Bry, MadSci Admin