Does Light Affect How Quickly Foods Spoil?

Exposure to light is one factor that can cause foods to spoil faster. Both natural and artificial light can speed this process, called photodegradation, according to the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Clemson University 1. Exposure to sunlight, fluorescent and incandescent light can all cause photodegradation.

How It Works

Photodegradation occurs when the absorption of light directly causes a chemical reaction in a constituent in the food, or when light indirectly causes a reaction in a second constituent by its effect on the first one. Photodegradation usually affects specific components in food, such as pigments, vitamins, fats and proteins. Absorption of light can cause food to develop off-flavors and lose or change color. It can also cause vitamin loss.

Light Sensitivity

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Light usually penetrates only the outer layer in a solid food, typically causing discoloration on its surface. Light can penetrate liquids more deeply and affect more constituents because of mixing and agitation.

Examples of Photodegradation

When brightly-colored spices and herbs, such as:

• chili powder
  
• have faded
  
• their flavor
  
• nutrient content have suffered
  
• too

In addition, water-soluble vitamins such as those in the B family are very sensitive to photodegradation. For example, the riboflavin content in enriched macaroni has been known to drop by 50 percent after exposure to light for one day, according to MSNBC.com. In addition, antioxidant activity in olive oil can decrease by 40 percent after six months when stored in the open.

Additional Information

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The added effect of heat, air and moisture, as well as light, can all cause food to deteriorate faster. Storing food in a dark, cool and dry place can preserve its quality and significantly extend its shelf life. Stored properly, foods such as:

• dried fruit
  
• soup
  
• meat
  
• peanut butter
  
• coffee
  
• tea
  
• cookies
  
• crackers
  
• granola can last for years
  
• according to Science Daily

Packaging food in opaque containers also helps to prevent photodegradation.