Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.
"If you do eat a food past the expiration date [and the food] is spoiled, you could develop symptoms of food poisoning," said registered dietitian nutritionist Summer Yule, MS. The symptoms of foodborne illness can include fever, chills, stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
The durable life date is valid only for unopened products. Once opened, the product should be consumed at once. Foods susceptible to spoilage should not be consumed if the “best before” date is passed. Even if a food shows no signs of spoilage, it can harbour pathogenic microorganisms that can cause foodborne illness.
You can eat food after the sell-by date. For example, dairy products are good for 1 week after the sell-by date. Eggs are safe for 3 to 5 weeks after the sell-by date.
Generally speaking, yes, it is safe to buy food on its expiration date. Expiration dates have more to do with the food's overall quality and texture instead of when it is safe or not safe to eat. As long as there are no signs of spoilage, you can eat it, but it might not taste as fresh as it once was.
Food banks and pantries all over the country—especially larger organizations which have registered dieticians on the staff who check all donated food to ensure it is still safe to eat and nutritious—encourage people to donate their past-date food (see here, here).
You can eat eggs past their expiration date. Just be sure to keep your eggs egg-cellent by storing them correctly. If you don't know if an egg is good or not, you can try the float test or give it a whiff. If it doesn't pass the test, throw it away.
Low-Acid Canned Goods
According to the FSIS, canned foods with a low acid content, like meat, beans, peas, soups, or vegetables (or our favorite, canned tuna), will keep anywhere from two to five years. High-acid canned goods like tomato sauce and canned fruit will keep up to 18 months.
While water doesn't expire, some concerns are associated with its plastic bottles. These vessels can produce health concerns and odd tastes as they degrade over time and microplastics enter the water. Properly storing water in your warehouse, office or facility may help mitigate these risks.
Can you still eat after the best before date? It's generally fine to eat sweets once they've past their best before dates. There is nothing in sweets that can 'go off' and make you sick.
Bread will generally become stale past its expiration date, but it's still safe to eat. If it's moldy, toss it out. To extend its shelf life, toss it in the freezer.
"Items that are deemed to be unfit to be consumed are composted, food cycled and recycled where possible, given to local farmers for animal food or composting and finally discarded if there are no other options available," Reynolds said.
Make stale crackers, chips, cereal, and popcorn edible again by toasting in the oven. Who doesn't love a crunchy, salty snack?! Spread stale snacks in a single layer on a baking sheet and pop them in a 350-degree oven for three to five minutes. Store them in ziplock bags for an easy go-to snack.
Flour is a low-moisture food, meaning it doesn't contain enough water to support microbial growth. As such, it's considered extremely shelf stable and unlikely to become less safe to eat over time.
While using flour past its date is fine if there are no signs of deterioration and it has been stored properly, it won't yield the same results as fresh flour.
Can you use flour past its best by date? Probably. If it doesn't show any signs of deterioration, and it's been stored in a cool, dry place, it should be fine for a few months past the printed date. Most of the time, using expired flour won't make you sick.
Are Dates for Food Safety or Food Quality? Manufacturers provide dating to help consumers and retailers decide when food is of best quality. Except for infant formula, dates are not an indicator of the product's safety and are not required by Federal law.
According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service Foodkeeper app, yogurt should be consumed within 1 to 2 weeks of the purchase date. (This time frame assumes you've been refrigerating your yogurt, by the way.) After that, there's no guarantee that your yogurt is still safe to eat. It's best to throw it out.