Manufacturers provide dating to help consumers and retailers decide when food is of best quality. Thanks for the response. More info here: go.usa.gov/xEQY3, @Larry Stute - these products are non-perishable. I am physically disabled and I do my best to prepare food that I purchase and plan to eat right away. Generally expiry dates when talking about drugs are when the product is no longer as potent as it was before and will deteriorate further as time passes. The time frame is the part I did not understand before reading this article. I find that to be, quite frankly, irresponsible ... but I'm not sure if it is the food pantries or the government making this decision. Unfortunately we do not have printer-friendly versions of the documents linked here. Between the food industry and consumers, Americans are throwing out about a third of our food — about $161 billion worth each year. So bacteria DO not grow. After the date expires, the product may lose flavor or overall quality but, it would still be safe. Y ou should buy the product before the sell-by date expires. A good source for alternative storage charts would be your local health department. I'm not concerned about quality as I can make casseroles, but just safety. According to Kevin Smith, Senior Advisor for Food Safety in the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, the “Best if Used By” labels you see on packaged foods relate to the quality of the product, but that predicting when a food will no longer be of adequate quality for consumption is not an exact science. If the food product has a “sell-by” date or no date, cook or freeze the product by the times in the chart below. The absence of oxygen helps to extend the shelf life of canned foods.” A best by date, on the other hand, indicates when a consumer may notice a decrease in quality. Should I get rid of it? Never use cans that are bulging, rusted, leaking, or deeply dented. How long after expired date on bottled water is it safe to drink? Is it opened? It distresses me every week when our church newsletter asks for donations of food for the food pantry, but then says to check the dates on the products carefully because they will have to be thrown away if they are at or near the expiration date. Once you open them, their shelf life diminishes. Foods that have been in the freezer for months (recommended freezer times chart) may be dry, or may not taste as good, but they will be safe to eat. @Andrea - thank you for your comment. It is not a safety date. Are there printed guidelines for food pantries? Two remaining are about 1) grains past their expiration dates, specifically quinoa, wheat berries and rice and 2) shelf stable milk, individually packed (for school lunchboxes) and canned (evaporated and condensed). Spoiled foods will develop an off odor, flavor or texture due to naturally occurring spoilage bacteria. An official website of the United States government, Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts. These dates are intended to identify when the product will be of best quality and flavor. Nowadays the majority of canned food stamps “Best By” or “Best If Used By” labels on them. Preservatives and antioxidants may be incorporated into some food and drug products to extend their shelf life. Posted by Marianne Gravely, Technical Information Specialist, Food Safety and Inspection Service in. This will definitely help our household cut down on food waste! For quality, we recommend to use this product within 3-4 weeks of purchase. The expiration date on food packaging is just a way to protect the company from liability.
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