[feintruled]

Yes, surely this must be the main use for human smell, to evaluate the safety of food. I remember being laughed at in my youth because I would always sniff a drink before drinking it (these were in my university days so a lot of odd concotions were imbibed). Seemed to me that it gave some very crucial information about what you were to expect!

[snarfy]

My father-in-law was a produce inspector for 40+ years. He said that after a while, all he ever did was smell it. He could be walking up to the truck or rail car from across the parking lot and know if it was good or bad.