What should be done with food that has an unusual odor or appearance?

When food exhibits an unusual odor or appearance, the best course of action is to discard it. The presence of unusual characteristics can indicate that the food is spoiled or contaminated, posing a significant risk of foodborne illness. It’s essential to prioritize food safety, and consuming or serving questionable food can lead to health hazards for customers.

Serving the food after cooking does not eliminate the risk, as cooking may not destroy all pathogens or toxins that may have developed. Giving questionable food to animals is also not advisable, as it can endanger their health. Lastly, using such food for stock could lead to food safety violations due to the potential for harmful bacteria or decomposing substances. Therefore, discarding food with unusual odors or appearances is the safest and most responsible action to ensure health and safety standards are met.