The document defines taints and off-flavors as sensory attributes of food and beverages that are unusual and can lead to consumer dissatisfaction. Taints originate from external sources like packaging, water, or air and cause a loss of characteristic flavor. Off-flavors develop from degradation of a product's components during processing, storage, or microbial growth and result in unusual flavors. Common sources of taints and off-flavors include contaminants, packaging materials, light exposure, enzymatic and non-enzymatic browning reactions, and microbial metabolites. Prevention and masking are approaches to dealing with unwanted flavors that develop.