The truth behind expiration dates (2024)

FAQs

The truth behind expiration dates? ›

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.

Are Dates for Food Safety or Food Quality? Manufacturers provide dating to help consumers and retailers decide when food is of best quality. Except for infant formula, dates are not an indicator of the product's safety and are not required by Federal law.

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.

What are expiration dates actually for? In actuality, most of the dates on food items (with the exception of those on infant formula, which should be followed) are an indication of freshness rather than guidelines for safe consumption.

But as long as you aren't seeing any signs of spoilage, most foods should still be good to eat well past their expiration dates (good news for that bottle of ketchup in your fridge). "Non-perishables can be kept and consumed past the expiration date with only taste, quality and nutrition compromised," Petre says.

An estimated 20% of household food wastecan be attributed to food tossed out because it “expired.” The USDA estimates that more than a third of the American food supply is wasted — more than enough to feed all the country's hungry and food-insecure — and 43% of this garbage is generated at the household level.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Can you eat 2 year expired popcorn? ›

Eating popcorn that is two years past its expiration date is not recommended. Popcorn, like any food, can degrade in quality over time, and its taste and texture may be compromised. While it's unlikely to be harmful if properly stored, it may not be a pleasant snacking experience.

Sealed, a bag of chips can remain fresh for two or three weeks past the printed "sell by" expiration date. Technically, even potato chips have the potential to carry Salmonella, but, in general, chips "expire" not by spoiling but by going stale.

Generally speaking, yes, it is safe to buy food on its 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.

It's important to understand that water itself doesn't go bad. Water is a simple molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and it doesn't have an expiration date. However, the water's storage container can impact its taste, quality, and safety over time.

Use-by dates on food are an important food safety control and labels are mandated on packaged perishable foods such as meat products and ready-to-eat salads. FSA consumer advice highlights that eating foods past the use-by dates presents a significant risk of foodborne illnesses to consumers.

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? While most shelf-stable foods are safe to eat much longer than their expiration date. The same goes for frozen foods, as bacteria cannot grow in the freezer.

Expiration date stamps on food began to emerge in the 1970s when consumer advocates complained about the lack of assurances that packaged foods were still safe and edible at the time they were purchased.