Have you ever grabbed leftovers from the fridge and smelled it to make sure it was good to eat? Well, it turns out that really doesn’t work.
Food scientists say there’s no way to tell if food is safe to eat based on smell – only if the quality has decreased.
For instance, milk may smell sour, so you probably won’t drink it, but it won’t necessarily make you sick. On the other hand, lettuce may be green and crisp, but could be covered in bacteria.
However, there are some foods that the quality will indicate the safety – fresh fruits and veggies, poultry, and deli meats have the highest risk for foodborne pathogens – so if they smell or taste odd, your best bet is to toss them.
So even though the sniff test doesn’t really work, make sure you’re using good judgment to stay healthy.
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