What specific chemical entities are released by colonizing bacteria, yeasts, or molds that act as true indicators?
Answer
Amines, sulfur compounds, or alcohols
The gases released during microbial breakdown that serve as the true indicators of spoilage are chemical compounds known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The text explicitly lists examples of these characteristic gases produced when microorganisms colonize food. These specific types of compounds include amines, various sulfur compounds, and alcohols, which collectively form the chemical fingerprint signaling that decay is actively occurring within the food product.
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