The Burping Fridge, and other kitchen troubles

I opened the fridge the other day and was blasted with a scent of…well, it smelled like a burp. My fridge burps. Such that even when I am lying in bed in the opposite side of the apartment, and Mr. P gets up for a drink of water, that a waft of fridge burp will wash over me.

I have been unable to ascertain the problem, even though nothing is rotten and there are no odd drippings that I’m aware of. I installed a box of baking soda in there yesterday, though it has yet to have any noticeable effect. Le sigh.

Also, the ants are back. Bigtime. I am slowly growing to appreciate how amazing they are; I will happily watch an ant heave-ho a crumb 5x her size and carry it across the kitchen floor. However, I still do not like stepping on them and squashing their productive little lives. So now, if I want to snack, I eat over the sink. OVER THE SINK YOU GUYS. It is the very height of foodie humiliation. In my new let-live philosophy, of course, I won’t be laying any ant traps or poison. They keep me company when they’re crawling around on my desk, but I’d like to shoo them away from the kitchen eventually.

Mr. P recommended plugging up their holes with gum, but I suspect this won’t work. I like sugar based gum. More fuel on the fire. Suggestions?