The Truth Behind "Sell-By" Dates On Foods

Are They Freshness Deadlines Or Guidelines? Expert's Answers May Surprise You

(CBS)  On average, a family of four throws out more than 120 pounds of food each month.

But plenty of perishables have a shelf life long beyond their "sell-by" dates.

So, just how strictly should you adhere to expiration dates?

On The Early Show Saturday Edition, Rebekah George, an editor at Prevention magazine, offered tips on when you really have to toss that food.

MOST THINGS WILL LAST A LOT LONGER, RIGHT? HOW ARE THOSE DATES DETERMINED?

They always leave room for error, because people won't always abide by the sell-by date.

MILK CAN BE SAFELY USED UP TO A WEEK PAST THE SELL-BY DATE?

Yes, it can, if you keep in mind that your fridge has to remain at 40-degrees Fahrenheit, or below, at all times. Make the milk the last thing you pick up before you hit the store's checkout, to minimize the time it's left un-refrigerated, which can exacerbate the spoilage; then, store it at the very back of the shelf, where the air tends to be colder.

EGGS WILL LAST THREE TO FOUR WEEKS PAST THEIR SELL-BY DATE?

You have to refrigerate them to rule out any safety concerns. Be sure to store them in their original container on a refrigerator shelf, rather than on the door, where the eggs will be more vulnerable to fluctuations in temperature because it's constantly opened and closed.

HARD CHEESES WILL LAST THREE TO FOUR MONTHS BEYOND THEIR SELL-BY DATE

They can last a little longer because they contain less moisture than soft cheeses. If you wrap the cheese in moisture-proof plastic or foil, it will last longer. If the outside forms a visible mold, just trim the mold and a 1/2 inch area of the cheese below it.

YOGURT

Yogurt will last 10 days to two weeks beyond the sell-by date, if it's stored at around 39 degrees Fahrenheit, which is right at the appropriate temperature for your fridge. And don't worry if it separates; just stir it up and dig in. The separation is called whey, and that's a good sign, because it shows that the beneficial cultures are alive and working. But toss if it has any visible mold or a bad odor.

LUNCH MEAT WILL STAY GOOD FOR THREE TO FIVE DAYS PAST THE SELL-BY DATE?

Yes, if it's sealed. But be sure to store it in the meat compartment, which is specially designed to keep the cool air in, and it will keep your meat fresher. Packaged meat doesn't start to deteriorate until it's opened. Just eyeball it before you consume it. if it has a yucky, green, slimy film, get rid of it!

IF YOU KEEP SOMETHING IN THE FREEZER, WILL IT STAY EDIBLE FOREVER, OR IS THAT JUST A MYTH?

Not forever, but for a pretty long time, if your freezer is set at zero degrees. But for every five degree increase in temperature, cut the storage time in half. And though foods will stay edible, the texture and flavor will diminish with time. And freezing doesn't kill the bacteria, so remember to cook it thoroughly, and follow the fridge rules when you take out.

HOW LONG CAN RAW MEAT BE KEPT IN THE FREEZER?

Raw poultry and pork, and beef in the form of steaks and roasts, will last up to 12 months. Ground beef will only be good for about three to four months. Cooked meat will last about three to four months, as well.

ICE CREAM?

You can keep ice cream for up to two-to-four months.

FOODS YOU KEEP IN YOUR PANTRY OR CLOSET OFTEN DON'T COME WITH SELL-BY DATES.

But it doesn't mean they'll last forever, and a lot depends on whether they're open or not. For example, oils will last unopened for about six months; opened, for half that time. Ground herbs and spices will last for six months; whole spices, for two years.

WHAT ABOUT THINGS LIKE PASTA, RICE, AND SUGAR?

They'll last for about a year in the closet, then you should think about tossing it.

AND CANNED GOODS?

Canned goods will last, unopened, for between two and five years.

[Samuel-HiLL]

A family of four throws out 120 lbs of food a month? Not at my house. Heck, if it doesn't crawl away fast enuff or holler for help, its likely to git et.

[Newster1]

Yes, it can, if you keep in mind that your fridge has to remain at 40-degrees Fahrenheit, or below, at all times. Make the milk the last thing you pick up before you hit the store's checkout, to minimize the time it's left un-refrigerated, which can exacerbate the spoilage;"


Why the hel1 would you RISK getting sick from food poisoning eating food that m ight be right on the very edge- where it's started going bad but the smell isnt there yet?

[pdchapin]

What this mentions only in passing is that the life of a lot of products changes radically after packaging is open. For example, some milk products come with very long "sell by" or "use by" dates. (I wonder what they're doing to it when the date is more than a month in the future). However, once you open it a new, much shorter clock starts.

[puzzler125]

I would be willing to bet that most of us have canned ground spices that are a LOT older than six months! Turn your eggs over once a week, end over end, to help them last longer!

[drputt45]

When the milk gets so chunky it won't pour out, it is time to toss it.

[morbidcherub]

Some people just dont keep their fridge cold enough to get away with this. I always keep my fridge super cold - I would rather have a little ice on a few things than have to throw out a bunch of stuff before I should have to.

[drivelphobe]

This issue has almost caused my divorce. My wife throws everything out as soon as the sell-by date is reached. I have contacted various food producers over the years to inquire about the condition of edibles and shared the info with my wife. She seems obsessed about it, ignores the info, and I've given up. I have cut her off over this issue and that gives me some comfort. Otherwise, she costs our family a great deal of money and each time she starts clearing out the fridge or cupboards, I am reinforced in my commitment to never touch her again.

I blame this on the packaging. If the food truly becomes inedible at some date, then put it boldly on the package, not in some obscure code. Provide some info regarding the actual time it takes and the conditions necessary before it is bad.

Sell-by dates are used more by vendors and markets to measure inventory flow and buildup. The dates should be related to safe consumption for easy understanding by the consumer. Please print only in English. I could care less about illegal aliens.

[southpaw651]

Some people might think this isn't newsworthy, but there are people out there that really don't know this type of information, and information is knowledge.....( Lord knows we need all we can get ! )

[I_am_me1953]

Geeze, what a waste of space, both here and on the pharma article. None of this is news. The pharma article is about 4 months old. This article is about common sense.

I just threw out a partial loaf of bread Sat. Why? because it was starting to mold, I didn't have to look at the "sell by" date. How about that milk? If it tastes and/or smells bad, toss it.

This article and the pharma articles are about common sense practice(s), not news worthy.

[flolake]

Great info. Great article!