Why can expired food still be edible?

Every time you pick up the food, if you see the brand expired, most women often leave because the fear is not safe for health. While these parameters are not actually related to the risk of contaminated food or food-borne diseases.

The shelf life indicated on the packaging is not that the food will be damaged.

The shelf life of food began to apply in the 1970s, because Americans were less likely to produce food on that day, but wanted more information about how they were produced.

Misconceptions and misconceptions about the expiry date printed on the packaging

In fact, these production and expiry dates are only for the freshness of the food, which is applied by manufacturers to make it clear which product is the best in the period of time . The expiry date is only to ensure that the manufacturer is not liable for liability if the user expires.

For example, if a food has an expiration date of 20, it will never break down in day 21, people always calculate a sufficient amount of time to ensure safe food until the expiration date, after that date. then the manufacturer is not responsible.

Shelf life just to talk about freshness of food.

For example, eggs can be used 3-5 weeks after purchase, although their "shelf life" is much earlier. A box of "date 3/2013" cheeses can still be used well in March 2014, with almost no significant changes in quality (of course if properly preserved).

"We agree with the date that indicates the freshness or quality of food, but they must be clearly explained to consumers and they understand what those days mean , " said the co-author of the study. This, says Emily Broad Leib, director of the Department of Policy and Food Law at Harvard Law School. "It takes a standard day and explains what that day means. It's about quality, not safety. Users can decide on whether the quality of food is still acceptable."

Currently, there are no regulations on the use of food dates in the United States, although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have the right to manage labeling. confuse. The only date regulation currently relates to infant formula products, as the nutrients in the formula will disappear over time.

However, correcting these mistakes is not easy. The study authors stated that the propaganda can begin with a clearer understanding of the meaning of the dates on the food label.

What does the date listed on this food package mean?

Use-by date (UB) term is used for perishable fresh products such as milk, fish or meat and users should use them before this date because then the product is at risk of affecting health. Selling obsolete products UB belongs to illegal acts.

The Best-before date (BB) term is required for canned or dry items and this level to indicate the last day that the product still ensures the best quality. After that, the value of the product will gradually decrease. If this overdue sale is still not counted, it is illegal.

Some foods are also listed as Sell-by date as well as Display-by date , which are used to recommend retailers rather than information for customers. It is a marketing tool offered by food manufacturers to ensure the sales of in-store products, so they can still be used long after users buy them. However, consumers are mistaken that it is a day of advice on buying products. The study authors said that the "sale deadline" date should be "hidden" from consumers.

Jena Roberts, vice president of business development, food testing firm National Food Lab, said the manufacturer wants to ensure consumers eat and enjoy the taste of food at the best quality. But she said, even if the food had overdue the best quality, they were still not harmful.

Chocolate has changed color still edible.

A strawberry flavor may no longer be red, or a chocolate bar may start to expand and turn white. Although they may look unattractive, they are safe to eat."This is a very confusing topic, the difference between food quality and food safety. Even in the food industry, many of my colleagues are not microbiologists. also confused, " she said.

According to the study authors, the food labeling system is created to provide more information to customers, but it is important for people to understand the meaning of these days . "The benefits of this day system are for consumers, but we want them to be more clear to users so they don't misunderstand and cause food waste , " Gunders said.

We are using food that is too wasteful, quickly throw away the food that is still in use.

The team said that this issue requires the participation of lawmakers, to standardize the date system requirements on the brand. According to Time magazine, those standards may be under consideration by the US after the study was published. If research results are recognized, then this is probably a big mistake in the food industry, leading to too much waste of humanity.

In fact, the expiry date is only to ensure that the manufacturer is not in a joint responsibility if the user is expired. A food with an expiration date of 15 never fails in the 16th, people always calculate a sufficient amount of time to ensure safe food until the expiration date, after that date the manufacturer not responsible. Therefore, consumers need to be careful to check the quality of food before using the goods which are too dated, especially in the conditions of producing goods and foodstuffs in Vietnam, which are currently not strictly controlled or not yet. the time may be broken.

Some foods, if properly stored, can be eaten even if they are out of date

Bread and biscuits

Bread and biscuits

Bread is a convenient food for families and can be used even though the manufacturer recommends the shelf life is after 3 days but it can still be eaten after 1 week even though it is hard and drier. However, if you find that mold is moldy, you should dispose of it immediately.

Other bakery items such as pastries or cookies also have a much longer shelf life. They all contain preservatives and sugars, which effectively prevent bacterial growth.

Cheese

The packaging of these products is very good, so it is really safe. For hard cheeses, it is very sour and salty, so most bacteria have no conditions to grow.

With cheddar, even when expired, it can be added for a few weeks and if carefully wrapped and refrigerated, it will still be delicious even if it is more than a month. If you see a mold stain, though there are still many, you can salvage it by cutting away at least 3 cm of the broken part.

Soft cheeses such as brie should follow the instructions on the expiry date and always be stored in the refrigerator. If you leave it outside for more than 4 hours, it has been damaged.

Meat

It can be said that this is a nutritious food that often appears in family meals. If you leave the meat frozen, you can still use it for 50% longer than the shelf life.

Frozen meat can be used for 50% longer than the shelf life.

However, with beef, if the expiry date is 10/5, the replacement term is 12/5. Because once cut up for packaging to be sold, the piece of meat could be contaminated with toxic bacteria and the shelf life began to count from now on.

If it is not opened and refrigerated, you can still use it even after the 2-day expiry date and if the piece of meat has turned brown, it means it is starting to wash out and rot, preferably you Should throw away immediately.

Fruits and vegetables

For fruits and vegetables, there is no need to pay much attention to BB. We can still eat vegetables if they wilt, as long as it is not crushed by vegetables that look wilted but can still be used. For potatoes alone, once green spots appear or sprout, throw them away immediately because the risk of poisoning is very high and don't regret trying to remove the broken parts to use.

Cut fish

Cut fish, such as salmon, can still be eaten up to 4 weeks after being caught, provided they are frozen below 5 degrees Celsius. They are still in a safe condition, but the flavor will not be fragrant tasty.

The fish may take up to 3 weeks to reach the supermarket from the sea and because the day they are caught does not appear on the packaging, you must always be careful when choosing. If the fish is green, don't hesitate to put them in the trash.

Tomato

For ripe tomatoes, you can still use them 1-2 weeks after the expiry date on the packaging. The softer the fruit, the more wrinkled the better. Unlike most other vegetables, tomatoes are sweeter over time.

Tomato

However, experts recommend avoiding eating tomatoes if they are watery, moldy or have an alcoholic smell.

Egg

Eggs are believed to still be edible within 3 weeks after the expiry date printed on the packaging box. In order to check whether or not the egg is still usable, consumers should do the following test. If you drop a fruit in a bowl of water and the eggs float, it is rotten eggs and vice versa.

Milk

If you put pasteurized milk in a refrigerator at a temperature below 5˚C and do not see signs of discoloration, an unpleasant smell and taste that is still good, it is safe even if it is too late use a few days. When milk starts to clump and smell sour, don't hesitate to throw it away.