How do temperature extremes affect perishable items?

Temperature extremes significantly impact perishable items by accelerating spoilage or causing damage, ultimately affecting their usability. Perishable items, such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy products, have specific temperature ranges within which they should be stored to maintain their freshness and safety. When these items are exposed to excessively high or low temperatures, several detrimental processes can occur.

For example, high temperatures can promote the growth of harmful bacteria and pathogens, leading to foodborne illnesses, while low temperatures may cause freezing, resulting in texture changes or spoilage. Both scenarios can compromise the flavor, nutritional quality, and overall safety of the products, making them unfit for consumption.

Understanding the effects of temperature extremes is crucial for preserving food quality and ensuring safety standards are met in storage and transportation. Proper temperature control helps to maintain the intended shelf life and usability of perishable goods.