Huby often asks if it is safe to eat week old soup , beans, rice,.. . .

I tell him, NO.

He says, but what about this? And what about this?

I say, NO again. This is a constant conversation. Why not eat the soup within two days?

This time I had had enough.
I told him it was his decision but I would not sit with him in the ER waiting for the doctor to explain to him this:
Food can deteriorate as a result of two main factors:

1) growth of micro-organisms - usually from surface contaminations -- especially important in processed food

2) action of enzymes -- from within cells -- part of normal life process (responsible for respiration, for instance) . It is important to note that many plants -- fresh vegetalves and fruit are still alive even when raw, and meat from animals undergoes gradual chemical changes after slaughter.


He remains confused by #2 because there is no smell, no visible deterioration.
The bacteria release enzymes that are poisonous and that send people to the ER.


http://www.biotopics.co.uk/pot/foodsp.html

Also this: http://www.foodsafetysite.com/educat...lage/spg1.html

And this: http://busycooks.about.com/library/lessons/blrefrig.htm

M

---------
P.S.
He threw away the soup and found something else to eat.