Every year, billions worth of food end up in the garbage just because people don’t understand what the expiration dates printed on the products really mean. Admit it. How many times have you thrown something out just because the label said it’s already expired or the best before date has lapsed?
According to statistics, 40 percent of food produced in the United States end up as waste. The problem lies mainly on consumers as 80 percent of them misinterpret the date labels and end up throwing away still edible food.
For preppers, food waste is a huge no-no. You don’t throw away food unless you’re pretty sure they are not edible anymore or that consuming it will do more harm than good. These figures on the labels are pretty important to preppers and it should be to you, too.
Best Before
When you come across the phrases “Best Before” or “Best If Used By” and notice that the date printed beside or under the words has already passed, your first instinct is to ignore the product and look for a fresher one. In reality, the Best Before date is nothing more than a marketing tool. Food companies supposedly thought of putting expiration dates to keep consumers buying or re-stocking their products.
For example, you buy a pack of cookies and forget about it for a while. When you’re about to eat it, you notice the Best Before date has lapsed. Most people will throw the cookies out and buy a new pack or re-stock, which translates to more profit for the businesses.
The main issue here is that you’re wasting food that is still okay to eat. Food companies make more bucks because you buy more of their products. It doesn’t matter to them if you throw said products away. They just need you to keep buying. At least that’s what some people believe.
To be clear, the Best Before date means the product tastes best before the said date. After that, the quality starts to go down but the food is still very much edible. In reality, however, the difference in quality and taste is barely recognizable, particularly in dry foods.
Cookies, biscuits and other baked products usually use this kind of labeling. The next time that you’re stock of Oreos pass the Best Before date, don’t worry too much. You can still satisfy your cookie craving. Other food products that can normally still be consumed after their expiration dates has passed include fruits, vegetables, bread and other dry foods. Bread kept in the fridge will also last longer than the expiration date. If you see molds, however, they’re no longer fit for eating.
Use By
The Use By date is a bit more complicated as it concerns some delicate foods such as meats, yogurt, and baby formula. It’s like you’re being warned not to go on or else something bad will happen when you read these supposed expiration dates. Surprisingly, that is not the case. Contrary to what many people believe, when a product is past the Use By date, it is still edible.
This figure is simply the point in a product’s life that it can perform according to what is expected. This may sound complicated but it merely means yogurt, for example, will no longer have the same nutritional value as it normally would have. The yogurt can still be consumed but it no longer serves (at least not that much) its purpose of providing nutrients. In other words, the Use By date is the recommended date that the product is at its best quality.
Baby formula is a little trickier. When it passes the Use By date, the USDA recommends not to consume it anymore. Apparently, it is no longer safe for infants to consume baby formula after the date indicated.
Eggs, when kept in a refrigerator, may last up to 5 weeks after their expiration dates, or more particularly, their Use By dates. To be sure, put the eggs in a bowl or glass of water. If they float, they’re not that safe to eat.
Pasta and even your favorite macaroni and cheese can last a whole year after the Use By date. This is why preppers like to stock up on a lot of pasta.
Sell By
Sell By labels are meant for the seller or retailer. It is another one of the supposed marketing tools of the food companies. These companies are telling the retailers they can’t sell the products anymore because they are no longer in their best quality. It also means the retailer needs to order another batch from the company, which means more profit for them.
Expiration Dates
Perhaps the scariest of all the different kinds of expiration dates is the one that seemingly tells you that the food is already spoiled. When you see the words “Expiration Date” or “EXP” and the date printed next to it has already passed, the first thing you’d probably think of is that it is no longer safe to consume. You’re partly right.
Dry foods can last longer if you store them properly. Store canned goods in a cool, dark place and avoid damaging the cans to double their shelf life. Bulging, bloated and leaking cans should be tossed out since they’re likely contaminated. Otherwise, the best way to know if canned goods are still safe to eat is to open the can.
Any wet or meat-based food item should be eaten immediately. Sausages, hot dogs and ham, for example, are likely to spoil and cause infection when you eat them after their expiration dates. Microbes thrive in water so avoid meats and other foods that contain water. It’s best to just throw them out once they’re past their expiration dates.
What to Do With Food Past Their Expiration Dates
It’s difficult to say if foods past their expiration dates are still safe to eat. One thing you should know, though, is that the more processed the food, the longer you can keep it after the date on the label. As mentioned, most dry foods can still be eaten after their expiration dates.
Everyone should be wary of the risk of food poisoning and other possible side effects of food that have gone beyond their expiration dates. Consuming them may lead to medical issues such as allergies, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. In some cases, eating expired food can lead to more severe infections such as listerosis and meningitis.
There is nothing much you can do about expired food but to dispose of them properly. Just be aware of the expiration dates next time so you won’t be wasting any more of your hard-earned money.
When you’re prepping you take expiration dates into consideration. You should grab the item with the longest shelf life every time you go grocery shopping. You don’t necessarily have to throw the expired product out when the date on the label has come and gone. Most food items can still be consumed after the expiration dates. In fact, some can last a year past their expiration dates. Of course, if the food has molds or has developed a stench, you should probably not eat it.
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