Trash it or not … how long is it safe to eat expired foods
There has been a time in all of our lives when we grabbed something from the refrigerator and noticed the expiration date had passed. Whether it’s one day or a week, we all wonder what this date really means—can we still eat the food, and does the expiration date really matter?
About Expiration Dates
Contrary to most beliefs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, expiration dates on food are not a requirement by the federal government, except for on baby formula. However, some states do require expiration dates by law.
The words found on the food expiration dates are not a hard “throw this away” date. These words are meant to be quality callouts to retailers and manufacturers.
- “Sell-by” date indicates to the retailer to move a food product off the shelf.
- “Best if used by” date notifies the differences in food quality after the date.
- “Use-by” date is the last date manufacturers suggest using the food item based on the quality.
None of these phrases indicate a product is not safe.
Is Food Safe After It Expires?
Is the expiration date on food really a matter of concern? No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety.
What to look for to know if food is bad:
- The smell is off.
- There is mold present on the food.
- The food’s texture has changed.
- The food has an unpleasant or “different” taste.
The General Guidelines for Common Food Items
After bringing food home, the following items should be safe in the refrigerator or pantry for the following amount of time. Also, putting items in the freezer can preserve the food quality longer without reducing the nutritional value.
- Milk: 7 days in the refrigerator
- Eggs: 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator
- Ground Meat: 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer
- Lunch meat: 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer
- Dry Pasta: 1 to 2 years in the pantry
- Steaks: 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator
- Fresh Poultry: 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer
- Canned Fruit: 12 to 18 months in the pantry or 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator
- Rice: 2 years in the pantry
If you or a loved one are suffering from food poisoning or other symptoms of eating spoiled food, East Valley ER & Hospital’s team of expert physicians are here to initiate treatment to help you heal quickly. For efficient, compassionate, and accurate care, come to our facility 24/7/365.
Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, East Valley ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
FAQs
No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety.
Do expiration dates on food really matter? ›
In an effort to reduce food waste, it is important that consumers understand that the dates applied to food are for quality and not for safety. Food products are safe to consume past the date on the label, and regardless of the date, consumers should evaluate the quality of the food product prior to its consumption.
How long can you eat food after the expiration date? ›
Sell-By Date: Refers to the last day a retailer can display a product for sale; typically a food is safe to eat for 10 days after the Sell-by Date if refrigerated properly. Use-By Date: Refers to the last day a product will maintain its optimum freshness, flavor, and texture.
Does the FDA regulate food expiration dates? ›
Except for infant formula, manufacturers are not required by Federal law or regulation to place quality-based date labels on packaged food. There are no uniform or universally accepted descriptions used on food labels for open dating (calendar dates) in the United States.
How critical are expiration dates? ›
Quality. These dates refer to how long an unopened food product will remain at peak quality and freshness. They are not an indication of safety, and foods are generally still safe to consume after the date has passed assuming they were properly stored from the date of purchase.
Which expiration dates actually matter? ›
No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety.
Can you eat eggs 2 months out of date? ›
On those egg cartons, if an expiration date appears, it can be no more than 30 days after the pack date. "As long as they're kept properly refrigerated at 40°F or lower, fresh eggs are safe to eat four to five weeks beyond the carton's Julian date," Maloberti says.
Will I be OK if I ate expired food? ›
Most cases of consuming expired food won't lead to serious health issues. Your body is often equipped to handle small amounts of bacteria or toxins in expired food without significant harm. Assess Symptoms: If you start feeling unwell after consuming expired food, pay attention to any symptoms you experience.
Can you eat 20 year old canned food? ›
Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.
What is the only food that has actual food date regulation? ›
Even today, the only US food product subject to FDA regulation and oversight of expiration dates is infant formula.
Therefore, if the "best-by" date has passed, you might still be able to eat the greens—but they might not have the same quality, taste, and freshness as before, says Havern. "If the leaves still look firm and [there's] no visible deterioration of the leaf tissue, you can still use them," Worobo says.
What is the rule of expiration date? ›
Expiration dates have more to do with the food's overall quality and texture instead of when it is safe or not safe to eat. As long as there are no signs of spoilage, you can eat it, but it might not taste as fresh as it once was. What foods can you not eat after the expiration date?
What expiration dates can you ignore? ›
While it's important to be wary of expiry dates on foods like meat, fish, and dairy, other pantry staples have a much longer shelf life. From condiments to baking ingredients, there are plenty of products you can safely consume past the “best by” or “use by” date printed on the package.
How far past expiration date is safe? ›
According to Jennifer Kaplan, former food systems instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, California, expiration dates are "a manufacturer's vague estimate of when the product is at its 'freshest. ' Many foods will still be good to eat days, weeks, or months after those dates," she says.
How to tell whether expired food is safe to eat? ›
Warning Signs: Often, foods past their expiration date may show some type of warning sign and will usually look different in texture and smell unpleasant. When you see these warning signs, it is safe to assume that the food is unsafe to eat.
Can you eat 40 year old canned food? ›
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, canned contents are safe to eat as long as the can is in “good shape.” The Canned Food Alliance agrees, citing 100-year-old canned food that was recovered from sunken ships and tested microbiologically safe.
Are expiration dates precise? ›
“The producers tend to be very conservative. They want to make sure they put a date where they're 100 per cent sure the food is still good to consume. But that food could still be good for another two days or three days.
Do expiration dates cause food waste? ›
Yet U.S. retailers toss about 43 billion pounds of food, while consumers waste an additional 90 billion — in large part because of expiration dates, writes The Wall Street Journal. About 54% of people incorrectly believe eating food past its “sell by” is unsafe, and studies estimate 68% of what we throw away is edible.
