
What You Need to Know: "Best If Used By" Dates
Most food date labels, which say "sell by" or "use by," are just suggestions for peak freshness and taste. But some are important for your health and safety.
Dec 14, 2016
Nutrition & MovementSheryl Kraft, a freelance writer and breast cancer survivor, was born in Long Beach, New York. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband Alan and dog Chloe, where her nest is empty of her two sons Jonathan. Sheryl writes articles and essays on breast cancer and contributes to a variety of publications and websites where she writes on general health and wellness issues. She earned her MFA in writing from Sarah Lawrence College in 2005.
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It happens every time I go to clean out my fridge:
Oh, no! Those eggs are how old?
If I use that mustard with a date of 2014 stamped on its label, will I die?
The yogurt expired two weeks ago—but it seems okay. (Is it?)
The next thing I know, I'm hurling things toward the garbage, cursing under my breath the whole time about how much money I'm wasting on food (echoes of that childhood dictum: "Children are starving in Africa!")
So, What's the Real Deal on "Use By" Dates?
Thanks to the "Ask Well" column in the July 15, 2016, New York Times (refreshing to read about something other than politics and dreadful ways the world is falling apart):
What if You Want to Preserve the Food to Eat Later?
If you have things like sliced bread that might be sitting around before you get to finish it, freeze it.
Store cheese in wax paper—it preserves better than plastic wrap.
Exceptions to the Rule
Pay attention to dates on foods that may harbor listeria, which can grow despite refrigeration. The FDA says that this illness can be especially dangerous for at-risk groups, including pregnant women, newborns, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.
So, pay attention to the dates on these foods:
Some Common Conundrums
Temperature of fridge? Keep it at 40 degrees F or below.
Keeping your fridge clean is not just so you can open it and feel good that it's gleaming: Listeria can spread between foods through spills.
Keep raw meat, poultry and seafood separate from other foods in your fridge.
Eggs can be eaten up to three to five weeks after their "use by" date. A good test: Drop the egg into a glass of water; if it floats, dump it. A sinking egg is a safe egg.
Wondering if you should wash your greens?
For more info on food safety, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service website or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Food Safety site.
Information is also available at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's inquiry page or at its Food Info Line: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366).
This post originally appeared on mysocalledmidlife.net.