Is Your Nose a Reliable Detector for Food Safety?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the reliability of the human sense of smell in detecting food safety, particularly in the context of expiration dates and potential food spoilage. Participants explore the implications of trusting one's nose versus adhering to scientific guidelines regarding food safety.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants share personal experiences of relying on their sense of smell to judge food safety, suggesting that it can be a valuable tool despite its limitations.
  • Others argue that expiration dates should be approached with skepticism, as they are based on average spoilage times and do not account for potential contamination.
  • It is noted that the sense of smell varies significantly among individuals, with some being more adept at detecting odors than others.
  • Participants highlight that food that smells fine can still pose health risks, citing examples like ground beef contaminated with E. coli.
  • There is a discussion about the sense of smell in animals, with a suggestion that many animals also possess this ability, raising questions about their food choices.
  • A later reply suggests that it might be more accurate to refer to the "sense of taste" when discussing aquatic animals, indicating a potential misunderstanding in terminology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the importance of caution when it comes to food safety, but there are multiple competing views regarding the reliability of the sense of smell and the interpretation of expiration dates. The discussion remains unresolved on the effectiveness of relying solely on smell as a safety measure.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the variability in individual olfactory sensitivity, the dependence on the context of food storage and handling, and the potential for contamination that may not be detectable through smell alone.

mugaliens
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Article: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/is-gulf-seafood-safe-to-eat-the-nose-knows/19577398"

Wow. Ever since survival school, I've been somewhat ignoring the dates on various items, trusting my nose, but have still erred on the side of science (if it's past the due date, it's out). Over the years, my nose has confirmed the fact the dates usually err on the conservative side, and on a few occasions, my nose has failed to err on the side of trouble (meaning I didn't see things coming). Now modern science is confirming that my multi-million-year-developed sense of smell is worth something after all?

This morning, I threw out six fantastic-looking breakfast steaks which had but the slightest whiff of "eh..?" After all - what's $18 among friends? Thankfully, we grillled new steaks instead. The eggs were just fine
 
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mugaliens said:
Article: http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/is-gulf-seafood-safe-to-eat-the-nose-knows/19577398"

Wow. Ever since survival school, I've been somewhat ignoring the dates on various items, trusting my nose, but have still erred on the side of science (if it's past the due date, it's out). Over the years, my nose has confirmed the fact the dates usually err on the conservative side, and on a few occasions, my nose has failed to err on the side of trouble (meaning I didn't see things coming). Now modern science is confirming that my multi-million-year-developed sense of smell is worth something after all?

This morning, I threw out six fantastic-looking breakfast steaks which had but the slightest whiff of "eh..?" After all - what's $18 among friends? Thankfully, we grillled new steaks instead. The eggs were just fine

Yep, the nose is an impressive little nubbin of brain, but I agree that to err on the side of caution is wise. Short of actually dying, food poisoning is the worst... I mean... the one time I had it I thought, "I don't want to die, but if this is going to kill me let me die NOW, and not have this go on!
 
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The sense of smell can vary a lot with genetics. Some people are much better smellers than others, and we're all pretty terrible compared to most other animals. I would agree that it's better to err on the side of caution, unless you're about to die of starvation.

Expiration dates should be viewed with some healthy skepticism. They're based on the average time it takes for the food to spoil since the date it was packaged. This is also assuming the lot wasn't contaminated in the first place. Food that doesn't smell bad can still make you sick, like ground beef contaminated with E. coli. Other foods that do smell a bit ripe may be perfectly fine to eat, like many cheeses.

In regards to the gulf, don't many of the animals also have a sense of smell? Humans aren't the only picky eaters of the animal kingdom.

Edit: It would probably be better to say "sense of taste" when referring to aquatic animals.
 
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Skrambles said:
The sense of smell can vary a lot with genetics. Some people are much better smellers than others, and we're all pretty terrible compared to most other animals. I would agree that it's better to err on the side of caution, unless you're about to die of starvation.

Expiration dates should be viewed with some healthy skepticism. They're based on the average time it takes for the food to spoil since the date it was packaged. This is also assuming the lot wasn't contaminated in the first place. Food that doesn't smell bad can still make you sick, like ground beef contaminated with E. coli. Other foods that do smell a bit ripe may be perfectly fine to eat, like many cheeses.

In regards to the gulf, don't many of the animals also have a sense of smell? Humans aren't the only picky eaters of the animal kingdom.

Edit: It would probably be better to say "sense of taste" when referring to aquatic animals.

They certainly do, but they may well not say to themselves, "that smells like aromatic hydrocarbons, I'm not eating that crab!"
 

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