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Expiration Dates on Food

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Date: 07/20/2005 Topics: Food Tips & Info > Food Safety | Readers Request > Food  
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When I buy yogurt, sour cream, pre-packaged deli meat, etc, I know they have an expiration date. Sometimes the date may be a month or two away. My question is, once I open sour cream (for example), is it still good till the expiration date or is that date more for purchasing? I don't want to throw away good food but I usually feel like the items are old within a week or so.

Ann
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By Gloria. (Guest Post)
What about cottage cheese? The date on the cottage cheese gives the date of when it is best to buy it. It does not give the expiration date. Is that the expiration date? And if it is, how long will it take till it spoils?

Posted on 02/23/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Lisa (Guest Post)
I have yoplait and goburts that say they expired on October 11,2008, they are obviously unopened and I had one today and it tasted fine. Should I be concerned giving these to my son?

Posted on 10/22/2008 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Tired of clueless bloggers (Guest Post)
If you want facts or science-based information, go to authoritative sources (no matter what the topic). If people used these blogs to link to authoritative sources instead of making up facts, we would all be better off.

Below is a link to draw your own conclusions from. The short answer is except for a couple of products (e.g., baby formula), the federal government does not require dates. Some States require additional dating. Most of the dates are freshness or best-by dates voluntarily placed by manufacturers so their quality levels stays high and are used primary by manufacturers and retailers to rotate stock (i.e., newest to the back or bottom, old to the front or top).

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Food_Product_Dating/index.asp

Posted on 03/12/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By suzzanne (Guest Post)
So if I buy a 16 oz container of yogurt and eat 2 ounces a day is it bad after the 7th day?

Posted on 01/22/2007 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Ann (Guest Post)
Thanks for the info guys!! As far as eggs go, I heard this tip before and use it all the time. To test eggs that are past the date on the carton for freshness, fill a bowl with cool salted water. If you put the egg in this and it sinks to the bottom, its fine. If it floats, its time to throw it out.

Posted on 07/23/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

By cookwie (1260) Profile Contact
Expiration dates are mandated by the gov't. because all foods have to have these dates.
Just taste the item and if it seems ok, then use it. Haven't we all had something whose expiration date and not yet occured, yet was already spoiled? Use your best judgement.

Posted on 07/22/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

By kidsNclutter (212) Contact
Read somewhere that eggs can be used a few weeks (2-3) after the date on the carton. I've done it in the past w/ no ill effects. Anyone? But, did hear from others that they ate yogurt that was past the date & got very sick, which goes against what Joan in CT has experienced. I personally now toss the yogurt past it's date. I will use sour cream past its date & yes, storing this type of dairy carton upside down does seem to slow spoilage.

Posted on 07/21/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

By Joan in CT (Guest Post)
Hi Ann,
The expiration dates are for the protection of the public. Stores cannot sell anything past its expire date. Yogurt is something which can be kept far past its expiration date at least a month. I do it all the time and it still tastes great. The expire date has nothing to do with how long the item will be good after opening. Once anything is opened, it only has a certain time amount to be used.

Posted on 07/21/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

By PammyD (Guest Post)
On items such as cottage cheese, sour cream and yogurt; I have heard if you store them upside down, that they DO keep longer. I've tried this in the past and it actually works! Hope this helps.
Take care....

Posted on 07/21/2005 | Report Spam or Abuse

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