A Guide to Food Expiration Dates and What They Really Mean

GoodRx ^ | November 2, 2021 | Cheyenne Buckingham

[metmom]

Before you put a food item into your cart or basket at the grocery store, you likely look for a “best by” date (or something of the like) to make sure you’ll be able to use it before it goes bad. But did you know that an expiration date and other food date labels are not the same?

Here’s what you need to know — from what each label means to which foods to avoid after their expiration date.

Expiration date vs. date labels: What’s the difference?

According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), an expiration date is typically only found on infant formula, which is regulated by the FDA. The “use by” date on infant formula refers to the date the manufacturer can ensure both the quality and nutrient content of the formula is safe for your baby. FDA regulations require this date to be clearly labeled on infant formula packaging because once that date passes, the product should no longer be given to babies.

[tired&retired]

In Pennsylvania there are many salvage grocery stores. They sell overstock and out of date products.

I shop in them every chance I can. You learn, stay away from cereals and any product that has an oil that can go rancid. With grains like rice and oat meal, you learn to inspect for bugs as they can get in long before the expiration date.

I can, freeze, dehydrate and freeze dry a lot of food as I grew up poor on a farm and you always preserved the harvest.

I’m careful, using moisture absorbers, oxygen absorbers, nitrogen flushes, and put pasta, flour, and grain products in the freezer for a week after purchase to kill any insects or eggs. I vacuum seal it in smaller bags with oxygen absorbers, then place several of these bags in a sealed mylar bag for longer term storage.

The freeze dryer is amazing. It retains 98% of the nutrients and tastes great several years later. I have a Harvest Right XL with seven large trays that allows me to freeze dry a 40 lb box of bananas at a time. (The grandchildren love them for snacks). I often freeze dry food before the expiration date to preserve it for a longer term.

Freeze drying does not kill or remove food contaminates like bacteria. You are freeze drying the bacteria and it will reactivate when you hydrate the product. You can freeze dry yogurt and years later rehydrate it to start a new batch. The same is true for yeast starters for bread.

I go more by the appearance and smell than expiration dates. If it’s getting old, I’ll often reprocess it into something else. For example, I’m just now making crockpot applebutter to get rid of my old canned applesauce, as I’m making new from current season apples.

It’s all fun. If I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do it.

[metmom]

I’ve also repurposed old applesauce into apple butter.

And there’s something immensely satisfying to preserving your own harvest that you grew yourself.

I buy only heirloom seeds and am also learning how to save seeds.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Every gal needs a Gary in her life! My Gary married my friend Sherri and adopted her daughter. Known them all for decades, now. Daughter has a son who I used to babysit for - so it’s still all in the family. ;)

My Mom is that way with stewed tomatoes. They hit a rough patch when she was young and all they had to eat most of that winter was home-canned tomatoes on toast. (Grandma’s homemade bread.) She doesn’t like any tomato-based foods, but she will willingly raid my garden for fresh slicing and cherry tomatoes. ;)

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Prepper Ping - Food Expiration dates, and what do they mean ?
When you store food for a period of time, you may suddenly notice the 'expiration date' has come, and gone.
Is the food safe, .. or should it be tossed into the compost ?, or into the garbage ?
This is a short article on understanding expiration dates on stored food products.

metmom :" This site has the best explanation of what the various dates mean.
It's a short article."

(From the article) :” Before you put a food item into your cart or basket at the grocery store, you likely look for a “best by” date
(or something of the like) to make sure you’ll be able to use it before it goes bad.
But did you know that an expiration date and other food date labels are not the same?"

"Here’s what you need to know — from what each label means to which foods to avoid after their expiration date.

Expiration date vs. date labels: What’s the difference?
According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), an expiration date is typically only found on infant formula,
which is regulated by the FDA.
The “use by” date on infant formula refers to the date the manufacturer can ensure both the quality and nutrient content of the formula is safe for your baby.
FDA regulations require this date to be clearly labeled on infant formula packaging
because once that date passes, the product should no longer be given to babies"
(More information is available Within the article ..)

[Jane Long]

I’m trying to determine if Ghirardelli cocoa, in plastic type bags, that expired a decade ago .... are still good 😂

I have a ton of ‘em, that I just rediscovered. 🙃

[Diana in Wisconsin]

If you’re talking baking cocoa, I’ve used the same brand from a canister I’ve had for close to 10 year, too. No change in flavor that I can taste in Brownies or Chocolate Zucchini Cake.

If you’re talking EATING Chocolate, to be on the safe side you’d better send it to me for taste testing. :)

[Jane Long]

🤣 😂

Thanks!

Unfortunately, for you ... it’s for baking.

I’m going to test one of the bags, with a cake or brownies.

I can’t believe I stashed so many away ... in such a good hiding place.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I used to love the Budweiser ads that announced their “born on dates”. As they said, an expiration date is nothing more than a guarantee that you’ll survive the experience. It always gave me a chuckle.

[ponygirl]

I tried tomato powder and it just solidified in the container. (I’ve been playing around with emergency storage since 2009, when the antichrist first took power.) So I know to stay away from dehydrated food and choose freeze-dried instead, and definitely avoid dehydrated tomato powder. Not only did I lose the powder, but I had to toss the jars also. It was like concrete.

[Silentgypsy]

Thanks, mm.

[Segovia]

Now, that’s a useful tip in freezing before vac-sealing, but it won’t work for my frozen corn recipe, (the old 9 cups corn, 1 cup suger, 1tbsp salt, 1 cup water.) Thats the only frozen corn I like. BTW, reading your posts above, I think I may be your grandmother.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I keep canned tomato products well beyond their “expiration dates”. As long as the storage is dark and dry. I’ve never had an issue...even with ten yoear old grocery store cans.