Food Preservation and Storage

Food Preservation Storage

Lesson 02: Food Spoilage

Undesirable Changes in Food due to Spoilage

Food deterioration is manifested by the reduction in aroma, flavour, textural and nutritional values of foods. Different types of undesirable changes which occur due to spoilage in food are listed as follows:

• Change in colour: The fruits like bananas and apples turn black after storing for a long period of time and reduce the acceptability of food.
• Change in smell: Rancid smell of spoiled oils and fats, bitter smell of curd or sour smell of starchy food.
• Change in consistency: Splitting of milk, curdling of milk, stickiness and undesirable viscosity in spoiled cooked dal and curries and spoiled cooked vegetables.
• Change in texture: Some vegetables like potato, brinjal and carrot undergo too much softening leading to rotting.
• Change due to mechanical damage: Mechanical damages such as eggs with broken shells, mechanical spoilage of fruits and vegetables during transportation also constitute food spoilage.