Food Expire Dates
The Bottom Line: If The Date's Old, Is The Food Necessarily Bad?
Q: Many cans and packages have "Best by" or "Sell by" dates on them. If an item is beyond that date, food pantries won't accept it. Why? Are these food items now bad?
In my own pantry, I notice that several items I use only once in a while and can't always find when I want them have outdated years on them. What now? Do I throw them out?
It used to be that a can or package could be kept indefinitely unless it was leaking, bulging or showing some other sign of being bad. What has changed?
A: It's still a judgement call.
Foodshare, whch distributes 16 tons of food each day as the Hartford region's food bank, says there are no set guidelines for food donations.
"When we get food from a manufacturer," says Christine O'Rourke, FoodShare's executive vice president and chief operating officier, "they might say, 'We have 10 pallets of yogurt. The date is such-and-such, but we can tell you it's good for 10 more days.' If a consumer called them, they might say, 'Don't eat it.' There are different standards when you donate than when you sell it."
The Food and Drug Administration is no more specific.
"Selling food past the expiration date in some cases is not a violation of FDA's regulations or law," says the FDA's Stephanie Yao. "FDA's regulations pertain to food safety, among other things. The quality characteristics of foods — taste, aroma and appearance, as distinct from safety characteristics — often depend in great part on good storage conditions (temperature and humidity control in the retail store and warehouse). When storage conditions have been optimal, many foods are acceptable in terms of taste and other quality characteristics for periods of time beyond the expiration date printed on the label, and also are safe to eat."
When determing whether to consume or donate canned food, first look at the condition of the container. If it's dented or dinged, throw it away. If the "Best by" or "Sell by" date has past, don't' automatically throw it out.
"This is something we struggle with," says O'Rourke. "If it's canned food, if it's good condition and wasn't stored in a wet basement, it could be good for years."
The older it gets, however, the more likely its nutritional composition could break down, says O'Rourke. Because of the wild variation in storage conditions, the FDA does not require expiration dates on most products.
Food Expire Dates - News
The Food and Drug Administration is no more specific. "Selling food past the expiration date in some cases is not a violation of FDA's regulations or law," says the FDA's Stephanie Yao. "FDA's regulations pertain to food safety, among other things.
The date is such-and-such, but we can tell you it's good for 10 more days.' If a consumer called them, they might say, 'Don't eat it.' There are different standards when you donate than when you sell it." "Selling food past the expiration date in some
Then I saw it had expired last year, in August,” White said. “That's when I panicked.” She's upset she didn't notice the expiry dates, but says the store shouldn't be selling baby food that far past its expiry date, either. Her son was sick for about
RAS AL KHAIMAH - The Ras Al Khaimah Municipality on Thursday seized huge quantity of food products from a grocery store for not printing expiry dates on them. The seized foodstuff included dairy and bakery products, said an official from the
I am hopeful that those who generously donate food to their local food bank will continue to do so and will give food that has not reached the expiration date. However, I am very concerned that many in our communities will be of the opinion that they
Food Expiration Dates
It can be hard to determine if yogurt you bought two weeks ago or chicken or the hamburger meat that you bought three days ago are safe to eat. You can see the “Expiration” dates on foods but you also see “Sell By” dates and you wonder, what do they all mean?
What’s more, did you know that food dating is NOT required by the federal government? The only foods that the federal government requires to have dates on are baby formulas and some baby foods. Other types of food dating is voluntary. Some states require dates on eggs and dairy and more than 20 states have requirements for regular foods.
Here is a quick guide to decipher those confusing dates on food packaging.
“Sell by” – The labeling “sell by” tells the store how long to display the product for sale. This is basically a guide for the retailer, so the store knows when to pull the item. This is not mandatory. The issue is quality of the item rather than whether it is on the verge of spoiling. It’s still edible after this date. “Best if used by (or before)” – This also refers strictly to quality , not safety. This date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. “Born on” – This is the date of manufacture and has been resurrected recently to date beer . Beer can go sub-par after three months. The light can reactivate microorganisms in the beer. That’s why you have to be especially careful with beer in clear bottles, as opposed to brown or green. “Guaranteed fresh” – This usually refers to bakery items. They will still be edible after the date, but will not be at peak freshness. “Use by” – This is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality . The date has been determined by the manufacturer of the product. “Pack” – these dates are on canned or packaged goods. “Expiration” - the last date the food should be eaten or usedAt the Perennial Chef, we take food safety very seriously. You can be assured that the foods are prepared fresh daily and are never resold or passed its peak freshness. If you have any questions, please ask our servers.
Food Expire Dates - Bookshelf
Food and Nutrition / Editorial Advisers, Dayle Hayes, Rachel Laudan
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Food Expiration Dates
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Food Product Dating | USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service
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