I know that I have used a product beyond the date listed, but with caution. At times it is safe but there is that little voice in the back of my head warning me to be careful. Some items are obviously bad - smell, discolored, or texture once the date arrives, while other products might appear to be fine. Sometimes it's a judgement call. I opt for the better safe than sorry whenever possible.
Check for the dates on your purchases when you shop. The employees stocking the shelves should be rotating the items to place those with the upcoming dates at the front and the items they are just placing on the shelves at the rear.
With the date are the words such as Use By or Sell By. What do these terms mean? This blog entry is devoted to answering that quandary based upon 4 types of dates.
Let's begin with the one that is most stringent, the "Sell By Date." If you are shopping in a store and see this date is passed, the product should NOT be purchased. This is the last date the item should be on a store's shelf. This is often seen on products that go bad quickly like milk, yogurt, fresh meat, and poultry.
The "Use By" is a date for which you should use the product for it's best quality. Many of these items have preservative in them and a short shelf life. It often appears on eggs, pretzels, bread, and baked goods. This date may be a few weeks or a few months away.
Next in the hierarchy is the "Best By Date." This is not the date to purchase the item by, abide by this date to be finished with the product for the best flavor and quality. Some of these items may have preservatives in them, but their expiration date is months from their production date. Products can include soda, cereal, salad dressings, and pasta.
The final category is used for items in jars and cans, an "Expiration Date." The manufacturer stamps this date on their packaging and this date is normally the one that can be stored for the longest amount of time. Items like pickles, tuna fish, vegetables, and spaghetti sauce have a long shelf life. There are also similar expiration dates found on medications and cosmetics.
There are also other factors that can affect the items both before you purchase them and once you get them home.
- Store the item at the correct temperature. Too much heat or cold may damage the item, as can humidity. Set up your grocery store stop to be the last things you do before heading home. Then select the proper storage location.
- Environmental factors like air and exposure to light may altered the product, particularly oils. Look for special storage recommendations.
- Damaged packaging such as a dent in a can, a torn package, or a broken seal can compromise the integrity of the contents due to microorganisms. Once opened an item needs to be repackaged in a plastic container or a new plastic bag. Folding the bag over and using a clip may be fine for a day or two, but items like pretzels can go stale easily.
Here is the United States, there are few federal regulations for food safety. To help protect the consumer, a few states have set up laws, but the manufacturer and retail stores are the ones who are the most responsible for maintaining safe food on the shelves. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a page that expands on the information in this blog at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/Food_Product_Dating/index.asp.
