It's disappointing to open a container of strawberries only to see green fuzz covering them. Even worse is pulling out moldy cheese for a sandwich! Fruits and vegetables actually begin breaking down the minute they're picked. With more packaged food, like meat, cheese, and bread, this begins right when the seal is broken—or before if it's been on the shelf too long! Bacteria are the main culprits of food going bad, as readers learn in this book. Up close photographs and an illustrated diagram of the process help readers further understand an everyday problem and the science behind it.