If you are like me, when you open your refrigerator, you may see some items and not remember how long they’ve been there. If I see something that’s questionable, I first look for mold. If I don’t see mold, then I smell it. If it smells okay, then I taste it. If the first taste is okay, then I devour the entire thing.
But everyone doesn’t live on the edge like me. For some people, that sounds risky. They would rather throw it away than take a chance on food poisoning.
Most food has specific approximations for storage before you toss it. The FDA Food Code says all perishable food should be discarded after seven days. They state no food should be around longer than that and some foods should be tossed even sooner in a refrigerator 40° F (or below). All food is required to have expiration dates. Refer to those for expiration specific to that food. The most effective way to kill most foodborne bacteria in food is by cooking or reheating at an adequate high temperature so the core temperature reaches at least 167°F.
A lot of food gets thrown away because of the misunderstanding of food expiration labels. There are four dating labels that are regularly put on foods:
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- "Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
- "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
- “Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except for when used on infant formula.
- “Freeze-By” date suggests when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
Many people want to immediately throw away food once the date on the food arrives, but if you look in the refrigerator or in the cabinet and the date passes, the food should still be safe to consume if handled correctly until you see or smell evidence of spoilage (refrigerate or freeze items promptly). This applies to all food except baby food as stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture . There are strict guidelines for baby food. One example of improper food handling is when you are at a picnic and you leave the potato salad out in temperature of 40°F or higher for more than two hours. Don’t consume it! You must keep foods like this on ice.
Manufacturer’s dates on food are there to help consumers and retailers to determine when food is at its best quality. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, it may surprise you to know, dates are not an indication of product safety, except infant formula, and are not required by Federal Law.
Although the FDA Food Code states that food should be thrown out in seven days, the reality is, many people keep food longer than seven days. For those that do, foodsafety.gov has a chart that tells you just how long before you really need to toss your food. It will also tell you about managing your food during certain events like picnics and holidays like Thanksgiving. How to keep your food safe if the power goes out. Knowing good food safety can keep you and your family safe and out of the emergency room!
