Tag: Rotten food

Harvested primarily between September and November, sweet potatoes are a staple food, but they don't last forever. It's essential to know how to tell if a raw sweet potato is bad to prevent foodborne illness and food waste, especially as they age in your pantry.

Globally, potatoes are a culinary staple, but knowing when to discard them is crucial for health. You can no longer eat potatoes when they show specific signs of spoilage that indicate toxic levels of glycoalkaloids, like solanine.

While the smell of spoiled food is a potent warning system our bodies have developed, the notion that the odor alone can cause sickness has been largely debunked since the days of the miasma theory. The primary danger isn't the smell itself, but the toxic byproducts that may also be present, especially from mold. So, **can you get ill from smelling rotten food**? The answer is more complex than a simple yes or no.

According to the CDC, bacteria can multiply rapidly on food left out at room temperature, releasing foul-smelling compounds. This leads many to ask: can rotten smell harm you? While the odor itself is primarily a warning, the invisible chemical gases and microbial particles causing it can indeed be dangerous, especially in high concentrations or enclosed spaces.

With over 46 billion pounds of potatoes produced annually in the US, proper storage and inspection are vital for kitchen safety. It is important to know how do you know when potatoes are unsafe to eat to avoid foodborne illness and toxic compounds like solanine.