What causes dead things to rot?

Answer 1

Food rots once the organism is no longer alive, or the preservatives keeping it from rotting stop working. The tissue in the item start decaying, and often bacteria will start building up in the remainder of the food.

Answer 2

Bacteria. We all carry trillions of bacteria in and on our bodies, while we are alive these bacteria make it possible for us to live. When we die, when anything dies, trees, fruit, dogs, bats, people.. the bacteria start to eat.. this banquet for bacteria is visible to us as Rotting. For animals the process is much quicker than for a tree. the reason for this is that we are made of much more digestible material than a tree. Also our bellies are full of bacteria, they have the added advantage of being inside of a very hospitable environment at the moment of our death, they basically have a leg up on the banquet and start the work from the inside out.

Answer 3

Food gets rotten because it continues to age after being picked or processed. The aging process continues because of enzymes that are located within the food.

Answer 4

Microbes feed on dead plants and animals. They release various enzymes that digest nutrients in dead organisms. Then the microbes absorb them. Slowly and gradually the dead organisms rot.