is it ok to eat food past its sell by date?

Answer 1

Sell by dates are different to use by dates.

A sell by date is the date at which it becomes illegal for a retailer to accept payment for the item. This does not mean it is unusable. You generally get about 3 days to use the item safely after the sell by date.

A use-by date is the date at which the Food Standards Agency has determined that the item poses a threat to you as a human being.

A best before date is exactly that, a date at which food is nolonger at the standard the manufacturer would like. This is usally on pasta, tinned foods ets. They will be safe to eat as long as there are no outward signs of deterioration ie no mould, no smells.

Answer 2

Yes, you can eat food past its sell by date

If the food is fresh do NOT eat past the best before - you risk food poisoning
and if food is canned, frozen etc then the quality of the food also deteriorates over time so i wouldn't eat those either after the best before date.

Those dates are there for a reason

Answer 3

"Best Before" is advice.

Some products will not taste as fresh if they are eaten after a certain date. They're not necessarily bad for you but you may not enjoy the experience.

"Use By" is an order.

This means simply, "Do NOT use this product after the date printed."

Depending on your freezer markings, you may be able to store some foods up to 3 months beyond their dates but only if you preserve the low temperature during the journey home.

If you stick a frozen turkey in your trunk on a hot Summer's day and drive two hours home with a three hour stop over to shop at Bed, Bath and Beyond or Home Depot, don't expect that turkey to be as completely frozen as it once was.

Answer 4

I sometimes go a day or so over, my cat's face when I let her smell it is a good giveaway too, if I've smelt it and it seems alright.

But, is it really worth it? How long ago since it was made? Could have been weeks. It's a practise I have almost stopped, my body is too precious.

I try now to freeze stuff, before sell-by dates, so that I can still get the most from my hard-earned money.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 5

i do and I have never been harmed but I take a look at it first, The "best before" dates are a con by the manufacturers. Things are OK to eat for years after the date. I hate this sillyness of relying on somone else to tell you if something is OK to eat. I grow veg in my garden - what do I write on those? Let your eyes and nose be your guide.

Answer 6

Yes definitely. Only last night (9th Feb) I cooked with butternut squash bought well before Christmas. My guests and I enjoyed the meal and remain in good health today! The supermarkets protect themselves by putting an (arbitrary) sell-by date on foodstuffs so that they cannot be accused of selling food that has 'gone-off'. I'm a great believer in the 'sniff' test.

Answer 7

Depends on the kind of food but if its only one or to days then it's probably okay. Thats only the last date they can SELL it by, you still have a day or two to consume it. Although I'd be more careful if it's milk or meat. Cheese will probably be OK for a while, yogurt too.

Answer 8

Common sense is all you need. Food does not miraculously turn inedible at midnight. I use many items after the sell by date. You can tell if anything is going off

Answer 9

Hi the sell by date, is only a guide. normally you have about 2 to 3 months after that depending on the food.the guide is for the shops, as they have to obey the laws. hope that helps

Answer 10

as a rule,"yes". just use your senses,look at it,if it looks ok then move on and then smell it,if it smells different to what you would expect,throw it away.If it smells ok,taste a little bit,if it tastes fine,its probably ok.This is the time when you put your main sense into gear(the brain).Think how its been stored, what kind of food is it?yogurt,chicken especially cooked are foods not to take chances with.meat that is uncooked can be safely cooked and eaten (but must be cooked well)