Major modes of food deterioration
During storage and distribution, foods are exposed to a wide range of environmental conditions. Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, oxygen and light can trigger several reaction mechanisms that may lead to food degradation. As a consequence of these mechanisms, food may be altered to such an extent that they are either rejected by the consumer, or they may become harmful to the person consuming them. Chemical, physical and microbiological changes are the leading causes of the food deterioration