360 Food Safety Manager Practice Test

Spoilage bacteria produce compounds that change a food’s smell, taste, and appearance. As they grow, you’ll often notice off odors, sour or rancid flavors, a slimy texture, or color changes—cues you can detect with your senses. Because of these sensory changes, spoilage is often identifiable by taste, appearance, or smell. However, not every spoilage event is obvious, and some harmful bacteria can be odorless or tasteless, so don’t rely on sensory checks alone. If in doubt, discard the food.