food spoilage
Edibles going bad
Food spoilage is the process by which food becomes unfit to eat—through bacterial growth, chemical changes, or physical deterioration.
Signs include off odors, discoloration, and texture changes.
Check the expiration date to avoid food spoilage.
The term appears in food safety contexts, distinguishing natural decay from contamination by pathogens.
- rancidityDecomposition of fats
- sour milkDairy gone bad
- listeriaFoodborne bacterial infection
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- autolysisCell's enzymatic self-destruction
freezer burn · oxidation · botulism · bacteria · bruising · biofilm · molds · putrefaction · salmonella · pathogens · yeasts · maggots · pH imbalance · bad smell · wilted · hydrolysis · expiration · sell by date
- deterioratedecay, rot, deteriorate, decompose, corrode
- fridge problemscoolant leak, freezer burn, ice buildup, temperature fluctuation, broken seal
- pest behaviorbiting, chewing, gnawing, burrowing, infesting
- expiration datesexpiration, expiration date, use by, use-by date, sell by
- humidity effectsmold, mildew, rust, corrosion, condensation
- outdoor hazardsbears, heatstroke, snakes, blisters, sunburn
food spoilagefood preservation
Protecting edibles from rot
freshness · shelf stability · preservation · food safety · refrigeration
food spoilagefermentation
Microbial sugar conversion
curing · culturing · ripening · cheese aging · wine making
food spoilagefreshness
State of being unspoiled
food safety · edibility · wholesomeness · palatability · food quality