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What do you think the percentage is of Americans who throws out good food (even junk food) based on the expiration date? I mean - they do so not because the food might be stale but because they believe it suddenly became possibly toxic to eat.
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What's the percentage for non-food stuff like soap? The other day I noticed my liquid hand soap has an expiration date for whatever reason. I better hurry up - I only have two years left of it being safe.
I started thinking about it after I read this...
"Good thing I read the labels and dates before I opened or ate anything. I avoided potential food poisoning and/or a trip to urgent care by paying attention."
It's from an Amazon review. After they checked the label - they learned the package was delivered with an expiration date two weeks past. They are talking about a Ruffles potato chip variety pack.
I grew up poor and we ate stale or almost stale food quite a bit.
If it's food with a bunch of preservatives in it, I almost never check the dates. If it's fresh produce, just check if it's looking wilted or moldy. Even some wilt is fine imo. Sliced bread I go a few weeks past before I worry. Fresh bread is a few days after but I check for mold spots and if none, I still use it.
Back when I consumes dairy, I wold usually go by the date though. Day of or day after, maybe give it a smell? I will say, Great Value brand cheese, never trust the date even if it's before expiration. That shit will become moldy in a heartbeat as long as it's been opened.
I'm making a curry dish right now for lunch and my curry powder has been expired for 2 years. It's fine, it just isn't as strong as it used to be.
If you have wilty produce you can also give it a few more days by putting it in a cup of water in the fridge so it'll stiffen out a bit