Have you ever wondered about the differences between “expiration date”, “use-by date”, “sell-by date”, “best if used by date”, and “best before date?” Do you discard food as soon as it passes "the date?" Does it make sense that food is safe to eat one day before the expiration date, but becomes unsafe the very next day? Is it risky to consume food after "this date" has passed? This confusion is annoying and frustrating. It often leads to the unnecessary waste of good food, which in turn harms the environment.
We first find out what an expiration date means. The “expiration date” is not defined by the US Food and Drug Administration, and the government law does not generally regulate it, except for infant formula and baby foods. For these two categories, supermarkets are forbidden to sell the products past their expiration dates. Then who sets the expiration dates for the rest? It is the manufacturer who determines the dates. They are for the food's best quality. When you buy a food item and find it spoiled before the expiration date, the manufacturer is typically responsible.
So expiration dates are not the same for food products from different manufacturers. It is because these dates are indicators of quality, not safety. “Best if used by” suggests when a product will be at its best quality or flavor. “Sell by” is advised for the store on how long to display the item. “Use by” is recommended for the food at peak quality. These labels are not safety indicators for consumers.
So, what should we do? It’s best to rely on our senses to judge. Spoiled foods will develop an off-odor, wield flavor, or different texture due to naturally occurring spoilage bacteria. If a food has developed such spoilage characteristics, it should not be eaten and should be tossed into the organic waste green bin.
Here are some tips to help keep our food from spoiling too soon. Freezing most food products can significantly extend their shelf life. Please avoid storing food in direct sunlight or near hot areas. Always use a clean utensil each time you handle the food.
Some interesting facts to consider:
• Milk may spoil within a week after opening, even before the sell-by date.
• Organic milk has a longer sell-by date because it undergoes a high-temperature process to kill bacteria. That is why it can be stored for a longer period.
• Honey does not need to be refrigerated and can last very long.
• Date labels on food packaging did not exist before the 1970s.
So foods are usually safe to consume even after their expiration date. For instance, dry pasta is edible for two years after expiration, peanut butter for up to six months, and chips for around two months. It is a good practice to avoid purchasing food in excess and storing it for extended periods. However, the next time you find an item nearing its expiration date, think twice before discarding it.
