The ground meat you bought for tacos that never happened is still in the refrigerator. You check the date on the package, and it’s already a day past its prime. What do you do? Should you throw it out, or is it still okay to cook and eat?
A Lifescript.com article demystified those expiration dates so you will be in the know from now on. In the article, it is explained that common sense should be a large indicator if a food is okay to still eat. If it has a foul smell, throw it out.
• If a package has a “sell by” date, it means that the manufacturer has placed the date so grocers know when to pull items from the store shelves.
• If a package has “best if used by” or a “use by” date, it means that food may not taste the way it should if eaten after the date has passed; it is not an indicator of food safety.
• If a package has “expires by” or an “expiration date," the product needs to be pitched once the date has passed.
• If a package has a “pack date," this shows when the product was packed; it doesn’t indicate food safety or food quality at all.
Do you have a question about diet and nutrition? Check out EmpowHER’s pages and the WomensHealth.gov website. Sign-up, post a question, share your story, connect with other women in our groups and community, and feel EmpowHERed!
Resource:
Lifescript.com: Food Expiration Dates, Should You Eat That?
EmpowHER.com: Eating at Home and Cleaning the Refrigerator
Christine Jeffries is a writer/editor for work and at heart, and lives in a home of testosterone with her husband and two sons. Christine is interested in women’s health and promoting strong women.