About a third of the global food goes to waste every year. Much of this is because of misunderstandings about the expiration date. That’s about 1.3 billion tons of food suitable for human consumption.
Interestingly, much of this wastage comes at the consumer stage. People throw away food because of overbuying, over-preparing, and poor storage. Also, most consumers throw away their food as the expiration date nears. But does the expiration date matter? Can you eat your food after the use-by date?
This article explores the expiration date on food, how to tell if food has gone bad, and whether it’s safe to eat expired foods.
Commonly used date-labeling terms
Globally, there are several phrases you may find on your items to describe quality dates. They include:
- Best before or Best if used by — This shows when the food will have the best taste or texture.
- Sell-by — This is meant for the store inventory management and has nothing to do with safety.
- Use-by — This is the last recommended day for use when the food is still of the highest quality.
- Freeze-by — This indicates the period you have to freeze the food to maintain the best quality.
Understanding the expiration date on your food products
Generally, the expiration date on your food has more to do with quality than safety. After the expiration date has passed, it usually means that the food has lost its overall quality or texture — not that it’s unsafe to eat.
Initially, items did not have sell-by dates until Mark & Spencer’s in the UK introduced them in the 1950s. However, this did not gain traction until the 1970s, when grocery stores became popular spots for fresh food. Since people did not get food directly from the farmer, they wanted a way to know if the food they were purchasing was fresh. Thus, the expiration date became widespread.
The rules for setting the expiration dates differ from country to country and, in the U.S., from state to state. Over time, experts have concluded that expiration dates are not an exact science and don’t serve any microbiological safety.
The sell-by date predicts the number of days the food will retain the highest quality regarding taste, appearance, and texture. Some believe companies continue using expiration dates to make their products look trustworthy and boost sales even though they know it has nothing to do with food safety.
Is it safe to eat expired food?
Since there is no standardized system for setting expiration dates, eating expired or frozen food is generally safe if appropriately handled. The time it takes most shelf-stable foods to spoil isn’t determined by the use-by date, but by how you handle it. So depending on this factor, your food may spoil faster or later.
This means it’s more practical to check for signs of spoilage — even if the expiration date has not been reached.
How do you know your food has gone bad?
Appearance
You can look for signs of spoilage, such as sliminess, discoloration, mold, or cracks. These signs mostly mean that your food has been contaminated by fungi, bacteria, or other germs, which can cause food-borne diseases.
Remember, some foods like salami, cheese, and yogurt sometimes contain harmless mold on the surface. This can be removed, and you can consume the unaffected part. That said, throw away foods that appear spoiled even if they don’t smell.
Smell
Don’t think twice about the food with a rancid, sour, or bad smell. Dairy products, meats, fish, and eggs usually have a foul odor when they go bad because bacteria are breaking down their proteins and fats. On the other hand, grains, fruits, and vegetables may have a musty or fermented smell because yeast produces alcohol or acids.
Taste the food
If your food has passed the two tests above, you can taste it. Food that is metallic, bitter, or sour may have gone bad. However, remember the taste of your food may change after the expiration date. In most cases, it doesn’t mean the food has gone bad; instead, it means that the quality of the food has deteriorated.
Storage conditions
This relies more on common sense than anything else. Consider the type of food, how it was stored and prepared, and your household’s consumption habits. For example, foods with seafood or mayonnaise spoil faster, and refrigerated leftovers should be eaten within four days.
Experts also advise against letting food sit on the countertop for over two hours. The longer it stays at room temperature, the higher the chances of bacteria contamination.
Foods to avoid eating after the expiration date
Some foods, such as sugary products like honey, corn syrup, molasses, vanilla, and salt, do not usually spoil. However, some foods should never be eaten past their prime because they may contain bacteria and cause food-borne illnesses. They include cheese, fresh veggies, and fruits. Also, check the milk before throwing it away because it’s one of the most wasted foods in the U.S.
Remember to adhere to the expiration date on infant formula, which marks when it will no longer meet the minimum amount of nutrients your baby needs. In the U.S., the formula is the only product regulated by the FDA. Another thing you must heed is food marked as “unsafe for pregnant women,” which includes deli meats, raw fish, sprouted vegetables, or unpasteurized milk.
In conclusion, you may be throwing away food that’s perfectly okay by following the expiration date on your food items. Instead of using the “use-by” date as your guide, physically check if the food is bad before throwing it away and contributing to global food wastage. However, if you feel you can’t eat any food past its expiration date, you can donate it to the nearest food banks or shelter homes.
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