Whenever you pick up food, if you see the expiration date has passed, most people often throw it away due to safety concerns for their health. However, these dates are not necessarily related to the risk of food poisoning or other foodborne illnesses.
The expiration date on packaging does not indicate when the food will go bad.
Food expiration dates began to be implemented in the 1970s, as Americans at that time produced less food themselves but wanted to know more about how it was made.
Common Misunderstandings About Expiration Dates on Packaging
In reality, the production and expiration dates are meant to indicate the freshness of the food and are set by manufacturers to clarify when the product is at its best quality. The expiration date is primarily to protect manufacturers from liability if consumers use expired products.
For example, if a food has an expiration date of the 20th, it will not necessarily spoil on the 21st; manufacturers typically calculate a safe period to ensure the food remains safe until the expiration date. After that date, the manufacturer is not liable.
The expiration date is only meant to indicate the freshness of the food.
For example, eggs can be used for 3-5 weeks after purchase, even though their “expiration date” is much earlier. A box of cheese labeled with a “use by 3/2013” sticker can still be good into March 2014, with little to no significant change in quality (provided it is properly stored).
“We agree that labeling should clearly indicate the freshness or quality of food, but it must be explained to consumers so they understand what these dates mean,” said Emily Broad Leib, co-author of the study and director of the Food Law and Policy Clinic at Harvard Law School. “There needs to be a standard date and a clear explanation of what that date signifies. It’s about quality, not safety. Consumers should be able to decide if the food quality is still acceptable.”
Currently, there are no regulations in the U.S. regarding the use of dates printed on food, although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have the authority to regulate misleading labeling. The only regulation concerning expiration dates pertains to infant formula, as the nutrients in this type of formula diminish over time.
However, correcting these misunderstandings is not easy. The study authors say that awareness can begin with a clearer understanding of what the dates printed on food labels mean.
What do the dates on food packaging mean?
The Use-by date (UB) is designated for perishable products like milk, fish, or meat, and consumers should use them before this date because after it, the product may pose health risks. Selling products past their UB date is considered illegal.
The Best-before date (BB) is required for canned or dry goods and indicates the last date the product is expected to be at its best quality. After this date, the product’s quality may decline. However, selling items beyond this date is not considered illegal.
Some food items also include Sell-by dates and Display-by dates, which are intended to advise retailers rather than consumers. These are marketing tools used by food manufacturers to ensure product turnover in stores, meaning they can still be consumed long after purchase. Nonetheless, consumers often confuse these dates as recommendations for purchasing. The study authors suggest that “sell-by” dates should be “hidden” from consumers.
Jena Roberts, vice president of business development at the National Food Lab, states that manufacturers want to ensure consumers enjoy their food at its best quality. However, she noted that even past the best quality date, foods are still safe to consume.
Discolored chocolate is still edible.
A strawberry-flavored drink may not retain its red color, or a chocolate bar may start to bloom and turn white. Although they may no longer look appetizing, they are still safe to eat. “This is a topic that creates a lot of confusion, the difference between food quality and food safety. Even within the food industry, many of my colleagues who are not microbiologists are also confused,” she said.
According to the study authors, the date labeling system was created to provide more information to customers, but it is crucial for people to understand what these dates mean. “The benefit of this date system is for consumers, but we want them to be clearer so that they are not misunderstood and do not lead to food waste,” Gunders stated.
We are wasting food by hastily discarding items that are still usable.
The research team believes that addressing this issue requires the involvement of lawmakers to standardize labeling requirements. According to Time magazine, such standards may be under consideration in the U.S. following the publication of this study. If the study’s findings are recognized, it could represent a significant oversight in the food industry, leading to vast amounts of waste.
In fact, the expiration date is primarily to protect manufacturers from liability if consumers use expired products. A food item with an expiration date of the 15th will not necessarily spoil on the 16th; manufacturers always calculate a sufficient buffer period to ensure safety until the expiration date. After that date, the manufacturer is not liable. Therefore, consumers should carefully check the quality of food before consuming items past their expiration date, especially in conditions where food production in Vietnam is not strictly controlled, and items may spoil before their stated expiration.
Some Foods That Can Still Be Eaten After Expiration If Properly Stored
Bread and Cookies
Bread and cookies
Bread is a convenient food item for families and can still be consumed even if manufacturers recommend a shelf life of 3 days; it can last for another week, although it may become hard and dry. However, if you find any mold, you should discard it immediately.
Other baked goods, such as pastries or cookies, also have much longer shelf lives. They often contain preservatives and sugar, which help effectively inhibit bacterial growth.
Cheese
The packaging of these products is very good, making them quite safe. Hard cheeses are usually very acidic and salty, providing little opportunity for bacteria to thrive.
For cheddar cheese, it can be kept for a few weeks past its expiration if wrapped carefully and stored in the refrigerator, and even after a month, it can still taste great. If you see mold, you can salvage it by cutting off at least 3 cm of the affected area.
Soft cheeses like Brie should follow the expiration guidelines and always be stored in the refrigerator. If left out for more than 4 hours, they have spoiled.
Meat
It can be said that meat is a nutritious food that frequently appears in family meals. If stored frozen, you can use it for about 50% longer than its expiration date.
Frozen meat can be used for about 50% longer than its expiration date.
However, with beef, if the expiration date is May 10, the replacement date is May 12. Once the meat has been cut into pieces for packaging, it may have been contaminated with harmful bacteria, and the expiration countdown begins at this moment.
If unopened and stored in the refrigerator, you can still use it even if it is two days past its expiration date. However, if the meat has turned brown, it means it is starting to spoil, and it’s best to dispose of it immediately.
Fruits and Vegetables
For fruits and vegetables, you don’t need to worry too much about the expiration date. You can still eat vegetables if they are wilted, as long as they are not mushy, as some may still be usable. However, for potatoes, if you see any green spots or sprouts, dispose of them immediately due to the high risk of toxicity, and don’t hesitate to discard parts that seem spoiled.
Cut Fish
Fresh cut fish, such as salmon, can be consumed up to four weeks after being caught if stored frozen at temperatures below 5°C. While they remain safe to eat, the flavor may not be as delicious.
Fish can take up to three weeks to travel from the sea to supermarkets, and since the catch date is not indicated on the packaging, you should always be cautious when selecting. If the fish has a greenish color, don’t hesitate to throw it away.
Tomatoes
For ripe tomatoes, you can still use them 1-2 weeks past the expiration date on the packaging. The softer and more wrinkled the fruit, the better. Unlike most other fruits and vegetables, tomatoes actually become sweeter over time.
Tomatoes
However, experts advise against eating tomatoes that are leaking, moldy, or have an alcoholic smell.
Eggs
After purchase, eggs can maintain quality if stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 weeks.
If you’re unsure about their freshness, you can check the quality by dropping them into a bowl of water. If they float to the surface, the egg is spoiled and should be discarded.
However, this method is not always accurate. An egg may float if the air cell inside has grown larger, which only indicates that it is old, but it may still be safe. Therefore, the best way to check is to crack it into a bowl and smell it.
Milk and Dairy Products
According to Isabel Maples, a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (USA), unopened animal dairy products can typically be kept for about a week in the refrigerator after the expiration date. For plant-based milks like soy or almond, this time extends to about 10 days.
Once opened, cow’s milk can usually be consumed for 5-7 days. Plant-based milks can often be used for 7-10 days if refrigerated.
The expert also recommends keeping milk in the coldest part of the refrigerator—usually the back of the bottom shelf—to help prolong its shelf life. If milk has a sour smell or the container is bulging, it’s time to discard it.
Meanwhile, another dairy product, butter, can last up to 2 months if stored in the refrigerator from the purchase date. In fact, butter can be kept at room temperature, but the flavor may change within 2 days. If stored in the freezer, it can last up to 9 months.
All types of soft cheese should also be stored in the cold. These products can last about a week in the refrigerator.
In contrast, hard cheeses like cheddar and grated parmesan do not need refrigeration. However, they will maintain their quality for up to 6 months in the refrigerator if unopened, or three to four weeks after opening. If cheese has been cut, it should be used within about a month after opening.
“A little mold on hard cheese is not a major issue. People can cut off the moldy part and still safely use the cheese. This is because, with low moisture, the mold will not spread to other parts of the cheese,” says Maples.
The expert also noted that yogurts can maintain quality in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks after purchase. At this point, the liquid and solid parts of yogurt may begin to separate. However, you can stir and use it normally, unless there are any signs of mold.
