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Post by ZandraJoi on May 5, 2020 9:13:42 GMT -5
"Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. “Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. Being eco, I don’t believe in the expiration dates of products. Some like dairy, mayo, yes. But other things will last longer. We waste a lot of food in the USA. Some sites to help you search: www.eatbydate.com www.stilltasty.comwww.doesitgobad.com Things like worcestershire sauce, like a lot of other condiments, may have a best before date but not a use by date or exp. date. Because of this distinction, may safely use for flavoring needs after the best before date has lapsed.
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Post by ZandraJoi on May 11, 2020 20:29:07 GMT -5
Is moldy cheese safe to eat? www.stilltasty.com/articles/view/84 “It’s a common question and the answer depends on the type of cheese. Based on guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, here's a rundown on the cheeses you can keep (and those you should toss) when mold appears. (1) Hard and semisoft cheeses sold in chunks or blocks Examples: Cheddar, Swiss, Muenster, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, Colby, Gouda, Asiago, Edam, Brick, Havarti, Jarlsberg Safe to eat when mold appears? Yes Cut away at least 1 inch around and below the moldy area (do not touch mold with the knife) and re-cover the cheese in fresh wrap. It’s safe to eat hard and semisoft cheeses that have mold on them — after first cutting away the mold — because the mold cannot penetrate too deeply into the cheese. (2) Packaged shredded, sliced or crumbled cheese — any type Safe to eat when mold appears? No The entire package should be discarded. It is not safe to eat shredded, sliced or crumbled cheese of any type — including hard or semisoft — that has become moldy. The mold could have easily spread throughout the entire package of cheese, even if doesn’t appear obvious. (3) Soft cheeses Examples: Cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese Safe to eat when mold appears? No It is not safe to soft cheeses that have developed mold, as the mold can readily spread below the surface of these cheeses. Some soft cheeses, like Camembert and Brie, have a rind that contains a type of mold that is not harmful and is safe to eat. But if additional mold develops on these types of soft cheeses (in other words, mold that was not a normal part of the manufacturing process) you should discard them entirely.” They say mold has ‘roots’ & can go deeper. If you DO eat some, take charcoal & treat it like a potential food poisoning. Some people have died 'cos mold IS toxic, tho rare.
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Post by ellyfant on May 13, 2020 16:16:06 GMT -5
This is one of those topics that bugs me badly. So many people throw away perfectly edible, safe to eat/drink foods just because greedy producers want to sell more and make more money.
E.g. My sister immediately pours away pints of milk on the 'use by' date, and it's perfectly ok, taste and safety wise, for at least another week after that. Even tinned foods are ditched on the dates printed on the tins, when they will be perfectly ok for several - yes several - years after that date.
Oh to be able to give that wasted food to those who don't have anything to eat ................
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Post by ZandraJoi on May 13, 2020 20:24:31 GMT -5
It irks me that people do Food Drives. I had actually emailed some & asked them to help change the laws. We have more than enough food. There should be no starvation. Change the laws so restaurants & stores have to donate them.
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stluee
Astronaut
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Post by stluee on May 14, 2020 18:45:55 GMT -5
Sinful so much food is wasted. At a gas station I worked at, the time in a warmer was one hour. I hated throwing out good food! i got to the end where I threw it in a seperate trash bag from the other, towards the end of my shift and brought it home with me. If donuts didnt, sell: they got thrown out the next morning except for certain ones. I would take the donuts out in a seperate trash bag in the morning and put them in the car. I was by myself at the store until 5:30/O got to given them away or we ate them. I didn't care if I got caught.
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Post by ZandraJoi on May 14, 2020 20:32:04 GMT -5
Good for you Stluee! "In February 2016, France became the first country in the world to prohibit supermarkets from throwing away unused food through unanimously passed legislation. Now, supermarkets of a certain size must donate unused food or face a fine."
I like the USA but we are so behind. Anybody ever do dumpster diving? I haven't. I'm not for just grabbing any food lol but some stores & restaurants pitch just the food in bags. Some are unopened.
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stluee
Astronaut
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Post by stluee on Jul 23, 2020 21:05:52 GMT -5
Is what I did considered stealing?
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Post by ZandraJoi on Jul 26, 2020 15:04:25 GMT -5
Is what I did considered stealing? It is. But... to me there's a line. I give you Kudos for what you did & I know of others who have done that same thing!
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Post by Bob on Nov 20, 2021 18:36:52 GMT -5
I think they are over-rated. Things last a lot longer than they say. Except dairy products. But for flour and rice, they will last a lot longer than they say.
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Post by ZandraJoi on Apr 28, 2022 10:12:05 GMT -5
www.naturalawakenings.com/2022/03/31/392681/expiration-dates-when-to-eat-or-toss-food"Americans waste about 40 percent of the food supply every year, which translates to billions of pounds of edible food rotting in landfills and generating dangerous greenhouse gases, along with the dollars leaking out of our wallets. We squander limited resources like water and fuel and needlessly uptick our carbon footprint to produce and transport food that will never be consumed...." "What Labels Mean Best if used by/before date indicates when a product is at peak quality and flavor. Freeze by date denotes when an item should be frozen to maintain peak quality. Sell by date tells a retailer how long to display the product for sale. Actual Food Life Span Milk lasts seven to 10 days after the “sell by” date. If it smells bad, chuck it. Otherwise, it’s safe. Eggs typically stay fresh in the fridge three to five weeks past the “pack date.” Meat should be cooked or frozen within two days of bringing it home. Cheese lasts refrigerated from one to eight weeks. Harder, aged varietals last longer. It’s safe to remove mold and continue enjoying the rest. Canned goods don’t expire. The “best by” or “use by” dates only relate to peak freshness, flavor and texture. Store in a cool, dark place, and don’t buy bulging, dented, leaking or rusted cans. Fruits and vegetables with blemishes taste the same, are a fraction of the cost and safe to eat." My notes: A good article describing the various terms:
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Post by lainee on Apr 28, 2022 15:25:34 GMT -5
Americans are so wasteful, it's just unreal! Even though I try not to waste, I do slip up, too. Trying to be better
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nomad
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Post by nomad on May 14, 2022 20:19:56 GMT -5
Generally speaking, we don't buy processed foods, therefore, we don't have to go through expiration dates as we by organic foods. For instance when we buy organic rice, we don't normally have to check the expiration date as rice is perfect even if it has been packed over 3 years ago. Actually aged rice is considered better.
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Post by ZandraJoi on May 16, 2022 20:35:41 GMT -5
Generally speaking, we don't buy processed foods, therefore, we don't have to go through expiration dates as we by organic foods. For instance when we buy organic rice, we don't normally have to check the expiration date as rice is perfect even if it has been packed over 3 years ago. Actually aged rice is considered better. We buy organic rice as well. I never knew age rice is better. Makes sense tho!
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nova
Astronomer
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Post by nova on Jun 20, 2022 8:22:52 GMT -5
I have recently found out that pharma often print out longer duration so that their products can be sold longer time. I think there are not many companies out there with the ethical practices which is kind of a sad thing on that part.
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golden
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Post by golden on Jun 30, 2022 6:21:39 GMT -5
Nowadays we see many foods that come for 2 to 3 days which need expiration and has to degrade them from the store. In big super markets this is more horror for selling them.
Recently I bought from D Mart ready made mixture for cooking, but storing in fridge 2 days went in bad smell. I have throwed it out and their is no expiration date.
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