# Do you eat products after the expiration date? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2001, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468 "2001-08-28T03:21:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![T\_G\_I\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@T\_G\_I\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_G_I_F)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/1 "2001-08-28T03:21:13Z")
Do you eat products after the expiration date? I do all the time. I work for a food products company, and we get lots of sales samples for use on future sales calls. When the dates are passed, the food is up for grabs. Usually I can get things within a week of expiration, which isn’t bad, but sometimes I stretch it quite a bit. It’s easy to ignore dates for candy, for example, because to my mind they never really go bad, just get dried out. At the other end of the scale, dates for bread and donuts are useless, as the product is unedible long before the optimistic expiration date. ---
**Author:** ![Shera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Shera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shera)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/2 "2001-08-28T03:52:49Z")
Most things, I will eat them after the exp. date. Usually I won’t go more then a few days with milk, but everything else is still good if it isn’t moldy. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/3 "2001-08-28T04:00:02Z")
Ha You don’t have teenagers in the house do you??? Besides eating everything ,nothing around here lasts long enough to expire. Seriously I wouldn’t hesitate if it were expired a resonably short time ago. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/4 "2001-08-28T04:23:36Z")
Some things yes, some things no. My peanut butter was already out of date when I opened the jar (had a fad, bought heaps, stopped eating it again for a while), but it was still ok, so I ate it. Milk, cream and the like are best thrown away if there is any doubt over the date. Lots of things have use-by dates that are pessimistic, and will usually be good for a while after that date. [Married with Children moment] “Peggy, this popcorn says ‘Use before December, 1975’” “No, Marcy, if you look closely it says ‘ **Best** if used before December 1975’”. [/Married with Children moment] ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/5 "2001-08-28T11:11:51Z")
Milk is easy - just give it the sniff test. If it’s bad, you’ll know it, regardless of the stamped date. Same for cottage cheese, sour cream, half-n-half… Breads and such get furry - dead giveaway that they’re past their prime. When in doubt, I pitch - dates be damned!! ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/6 "2001-08-28T11:16:29Z")
ha… did you ever see the old Dave Letterman routine “Name That Expiration Date”…? I’ll never forget the look on the stagehand’s face when he was fed some cottage cheese that was 3 months beyond expiration. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/7 "2001-08-28T11:21:10Z")
yeah, why not. Exp. dates go by the same rule a company follows when it tells you how long it will take till you get their product. Namely always air on the side of caution. So the real shelf life is probably quite longer then what they say so their butts are covered legalistically. At least that’s my opinion. Although generally I only do this for vacuum sealed products. ---
**Author:** ![Tisme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f0a364/32.png) [@Tisme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tisme)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/8 "2001-08-28T13:03:23Z")
We quite regularly eat foods past the “best before” date, so long as they look and smell OK. Most foods will keep well past their use by if kept in conditions recommended by the maker. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/9 "2001-08-28T13:11:23Z")
Some of my jars of Vegemite have “expiration dates” on them, but I doubt Vegemite ever goes bad. Tastes fine to me. Newer jars have “best before” dates on them. Mmmm… Vegemite! I wonder why it never caught on here in the States? ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/10 "2001-08-28T13:14:36Z")
As I have always understood it, the date on fresh products such as milk is not an “expiration” date, but a “sell by” date. It is the last date that the store is allowed to sell the product. It is assumed that it will last another week or so after you bring it home. ---
**Author:** ![tsunamisurfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a698b9/32.png) [@tsunamisurfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tsunamisurfer)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2001, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/11 "2001-08-28T13:41:19Z")
After a hard workout last night, I applied Ben Gay to my sore deltoid, while sitting in bed. It was kind of lumpy and when I snapped on the light, the expiration date read “March 1994.” ---
**Author:** ![T\_G\_I\_F](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@T\_G\_I\_F](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_G_I_F)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/12 "2001-08-30T05:05:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by robinh \* > \*\*As I have always understood it, the date on fresh products such as milk is not an “expiration” date, but a “sell by” date. \*\* That’s right. Usually they have a notation somewhere about how long you’re expected to have after that, like “Guaranteed fresh for 5 days after purchase if kept below 40 degrees.” Some of our products, especially the bulk items (like 2lb bags of cocoa powder), only have a manufacture date. These are intended for “institutional” sales, like to cafeterias. The salesman knows the shelf life after that, but it’s called “closed dating”, and isn’t on the package. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/13 "2001-08-30T05:09:26Z")
I will eat processed food that has expired but not dairy. Funny, I am the only one in the family that does that. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/14 "2001-08-30T05:20:28Z")
Most things, yes. For example, around Christmas of 1996 I came into possession of more twinkies, donuts, bread, etc than I could eat before it all went bad. Six months later I was still eating the twinkies. Bear in mind they were made especially FOR Christmas; they had expiration dates on or before Xmas. ---
**Author:** ![Pessor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/439d5e/32.png) [@Pessor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pessor)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/15 "2001-08-30T05:46:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by T G I F \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by robinh \* > > \*\*As I have always understood it, the date on fresh products such as milk is not an “expiration” date, but a “sell by” date. \*\* > > That’s right. Usually they have a notation somewhere about how long you’re expected to have after that, like “Guaranteed fresh for 5 days after purchase if kept below 40 degrees.” > > Some of our products, especially the bulk items (like 2lb bags of cocoa powder), only have a manufacture date. These are intended for “institutional” sales, like to cafeterias. > The salesman knows the shelf life after that, but it’s called “closed dating”, and isn’t on the package. \*\* Nice Dope answer! Get familiar with all the products you use and find the information. You’ll only end up with 3-4 categories, dry goods, meat/poultry, seafood/dairy, produce. If you have problems with frozen stuff I usually just toss it. It was probably in there because you were done with it in the first place. Dairy, run your refrigerator at 36 or 38 degrees and I say it buys you a week, however it’s really easy to kill other foods in the fridge that way, i.e. cooling soup, a freshly baked quiche. So many variables. Gotta sniff, gotta grab, gotta look and sometimes even taste. If you know what you’re doing, you can save a buck or two once you know. Grab a sanitation book for ten bucks at any decent bookstore and read it before Thanksgiving… you’ll even learn when leftovers are past their appeal. Oh, and my Martha Stewart Moment: Sashimi grade tuna loin tips, fish monger may sell them to you for as low as $6.99 a pound and they’ll be fresh… otherwise he won’t even have them. Ask late in the day. Tuna Stir Fry with Day Old Produce… Yummy and Cheap! ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/16 "2001-08-30T19:15:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tsunamisurfer \* > \*\*After a hard workout last night, I applied Ben Gay to my sore deltoid, while sitting in bed. It was kind of lumpy and when I snapped on the light, the expiration date read “March 1994.” \*\* [smartass} Was it your bed, or your deltoid that was lumpy and expired in '94? [/smartass] ---
**Author:** ![BunnyGirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@BunnyGirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BunnyGirl)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/17 "2001-08-30T19:53:02Z")
Sniff test for dairy. Green mold present? Out if goes. That white stuff on cheese? Cut it off and eat the rest. (Don’t give me that face! :p) Now, my dad - that’s a different story. Sometimes I’m afraid to eat at his house. “Try it, honey, it’s only been in the fridge 4 weeks, uncovered. It’s still good.” Eeeeww, Dad, just throw it out already! ---
**Author:** ![bluecanary](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bluecanary/32/3614_2.png) [@bluecanary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bluecanary)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/18 "2001-08-30T20:11:24Z")
How about Dorito’s dips (like tomato chili). It says dispose of three days after opening. Essential? ---
**Author:** ![LaToyota\_Corolla\_Falana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@LaToyota\_Corolla\_Falana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LaToyota_Corolla_Falana)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/19 "2001-08-30T21:08:47Z")
I regularly eat expired film and batteries. I draw the line at eating expired credit cards. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2001, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468/20 "2001-08-30T22:18:25Z")
I don’t drink coffee, but I keep a couple of jars for visitors. Eventually one of them passed its expiry date - after 8 years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-eat-products-after-the-expiration-date/78468.md?page=2)