Just remember, refrigeration does not stop spoilage. Anybody that's found the New Year's chip dip when putting away the 4th of July salsa knows what I mean. Refrigeration slows spoilage, or to put it another way, makes it safer to eat less fresh food. Instead of grocery shopping everyday or a couple times a week and immediately consuming the food, refrigeration allows for weekly or less shopping trips. However, it's no gurarantee but merely an assurance that your food will be OK.

I'll wager that the fact the fridge keeps dirt, bugs, and other contaminants way from uncontaminated food has as much or more to do with delayed spoilage as the cooler temp. So it was 150 years ago and so it will be on the trail.

FB