Autoxidation

Okay kiddo, have you ever seen an apple slice turn brown when it's been cut and left out for a while? That's kind of like autoxidation!

Autoxidation is when certain things, like oils or fats, react with air (oxygen) over time and can change in color, taste, smell or even safety. It's like when you leave a sandwich with mayonnaise out for too long and it starts to taste and smell funny - that's because the mayonnaise is reacting with the air!

The reason for this is because of something called "free radicals" which are like little tiny particles that can damage things. These free radicals can be created by the air, light, heat or even when things are being processed or stored.

When these free radicals react with oils or fats (like in that sandwich with mayonnaise), it can make them go bad and even become harmful. That's why it's important to store certain foods properly and not leave them out for too long.

So, with autoxidation, it's important to be aware of how things are stored and used so that they don't go bad or become harmful. It's always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to our food!