Carbon and Nitrogen Cycle How Its Affects Food Spoilage

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ASSIGNMENT TWO DEPARTMENT: NUTRITION AND FOOD SCIENCES COURSE CODE: FDSC 201 NAME: LAWRENCIA ADJEI STUDENT ID: 10392246 THE ROLE OF THE CARBON AND NITROGEN CYCLES IN FOOD SPOILAGE. Food spoilage is the state at which food becomes unsafe for human consumption due to chemical or biological contamination. At this point, the original nutritional value, texture and flavor of the food are damaged making the food unsafe and unsuitable for human consumption. Most natural foods are perishable and have a limited life. There many causes of food spoilage but the main cause is the incursion by microorganisms such as moulds, yeast and bacteria. Microorganisms are found everywhere since the conditions that promote their growth are available. These microorganisms prefer warm, moist environment, a supply of oxygen and food. Because these organisms have similar needs to that of humans they contaminate our food easily. The factors that allow these microorganisms to accomplish biodegradation and carbon cycling are at work on anything organic food inclusive yeasts that grow on food make use of carbon sources in the food, this cause’s chemical and physical change of food leading to food spoilage. In the carbon cycle, soil bacteria and fungi recycle the carbon of proteins, fats and carbohydrate by using the organic plant and animal matter in their metabolism. Organic food substances are regenerated as a result of the friction of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Photosynthetic organisms are the primary producers of organic carbon compounds and these provide nutrient for other organism. This organism act as consumers of organic carbon and the breakdown of organic materials in the process of fermentation and respiration. Fermentation reactions common in bacteria that are found in water and anaerobic soils, are responsible for the breakdown of organic chemicals into carbon dioxide
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