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Often people open up their refrigerators, cupboards and cabinets to find foods that are beyond their sell- buy and use- buy dates. While it is always better to be safe than sorry, the following guidelines and information should help to take the guesswork out of determining whether or not your food is safe to eat. Dating is not required by US Federal law, with the exception of infant formula and baby foods which must be withdrawn by their expiration date.
For all other foods, except dairy products in some states, freshness dating is strictly voluntary on the part of manufacturers. For meat, poultry, and egg products under the jurisdiction of the Food Safety and Inspection Service FSIS , dates may be voluntarily applied provided they are not misleading and labeled in a manner that is in compliance with FSIS regulations.
Also stores are not legally required to remove outdated products from their shelves. In order to ensure you getting the freshest food, it is necessary to scrutinize packaging and purchase the items with the most recent date.
Although most markets are good about rotating their stock, some are not. If a store is properly stocked, the freshest items will be at the back of the shelf or underneath older items. While other dating terms are used as a basic guideline, this one is absolute. Food is generally safe if consumed past this date, but may have deteriorated in flavor, texture, or appearance.
Items are generally safe for consumption after this date, but may begin to lose flavor or eye appeal. This date is often used for perishable baked goods. Beyond this date, freshness is no longer guaranteed, although it may still be edible. As previously mentioned, sometimes eating food after the "best by" date simply means a decline in quality. Yogurt , for example, can be eaten 14 to 24 days after the printed date, but it will become increasingly sour during that time.
Other foods, however, might make you sick , and the symptoms can range from a stomach ache to full-on food poisoning. Experts say that chicken is one of the worst offenders : listeria was found when the poultry was stored in the fridge for 2 weeks past its "use by" date.
So how can you really be sure that food is okay to eat after the expiration date? Remember the difference between "best by" and "use by": milk, cheese, and bread can all last for varying time after their "best by" date when left unopened and stored properly. However, it is not recommended to ignore the "use by" date of meat, poultry or eggs.
Last year, however, the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association came together to create their own rules.
While they aren't backed by the government, these organizations carry enough clout that food companies have taken notice. After researching, it's clear that there is a benefit to multiple terms for food dating. But despite these guidelines, remember to always use common sense when trying something from the back of the fridge. Nearly 40 percent of the food produced in the U.
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