No, don’t eat that!: Swetha Sivakumar on how foods spoil

In this week’s Sound Bites, a look at different definitions of ‘too bad’; at the microbes at play; and why you shouldn’t cringe when someone eats a soft banana.

This week, I’d like to start by thanking readers for their feedback. It lights up my Sundays, every week, and gives me food for thought.

A recent question from Sandeep Khanna, for instance, inspired this column. Why do different foods spoil differently, he asked? Well, let’s take a look.

First, what does “spoiled” mean? The answer to this varies wildly from person to person, as anyone who has been watched in disgust as they eat a soft banana knows.

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