INDIANAPOLIS -- Ever grab something from your fridge to eat and realize it expired the day before? Most of us instantly throw the food away and move on to something else, but the reality is, it’s probably actually still safe to eat.
Millions of pounds of food get wasted each year, and most that waste is because of the little date stickers on the packaging – but those dates don’t actually tell us anything about a food’s safety, only how fresh it is.
“I think it’s important for consumers to understand what that date on the package means,” said Denise Derrer with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health. “There is nothing magic about a specific date that says ‘Ding, that meat is no longer safe to eat.’ If something is out of date, according to the package, but if its stored properly, handled properly and cooked properly it can still be safe to eat.”
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Derrer says expiration dates are actually just a suggestion for consumers and a way for retailers to make sure they are rotating their stock so that everything they are selling remains good quality. They may tell you when a product is at its “peak” freshness, but just because it’s past the “sell by” date doesn’t mean it’s not safe to eat.
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A recent report from the Natural Resources Defense Council says more than 90 percent of consumers have thrown food out based on those “sell by” dates – and a lot of that food was probably still safe to eat.
In fact, the only product that is actually required to be dated and is federally regulated is infant formula.
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For example, some products – liked cured ham or jerky – have a longer shelf life and are less likely to go bad quickly, but luncheon meats are only good for a few days after they’re opened.
Even fresh meats have a little wiggle room when it comes to being safe to eat if they were stored properly, handled properly and cooked to the appropriate temperature.
Derrer said if something is obsessively out of date – like two to three weeks or longer – then you should probably still consider throwing it out, but a day or two out of date is definitely not something to be overly alarmed about.
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If you’re still unsure about when something is still good, the Cleveland Clinic released the following rules of thumb to follow when determining if the foods in your fridge and pantry are still good.
- Milk is typically safe for two to three days after the “use by” date. Keep it in the back of the fridge, where temperatures are typically coldest.
- Butter will keep for two to three weeks after purchase.
- Margarine will last for four to six months after purchase.
- Eggs are safe for three to five weeks after purchase. Keep them in the back of the fridge, where temperatures are typically coldest, rather than in the door.
- Chicken, ground meat and ground poultry will last for one to two days after purchase.
- Pre-cooked poultry should keep for three to four days.
- Fish will last one to two days in the refrigerator after purchase.
- Luncheon meat is safe for two to three weeks when it remains unopened. Use within three to four days after opening.
- Dry pasta will last for one to two years after purchase.
- Canned fruits and vegetables will last indefinitely. However, that rule goes out the window if they’re exposed to freezing temperatures or temperatures above 90°F. And be wary of damaged, dented or rusty packaging.
Also, remember, if you freeze something it will last indefinitely, although it may never taste as good as its fresh-never-frozen counterparts.
Derrer says the best thing you can do when it comes to your food is to let your senses be your guide. If something smells rotten, curdles or turns colors, throw it out.
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