Bought a container of Blue Cheese dressing with a sell by date of March 22. Opened it and have been using it?

Question

since March 1st. Is it still good to be using do you think? It still smells like good Blue Cheese dressing?

Answer 1

A "sell by" date is not the same as a "use by" date.

"Sell by" means the item should be removed from the shelves of stores after that date, but more as a matter of quality control. Products (especially those kept on shelves as opposed to fresh) will still have a long shelf life ahead of them after the "sell by" date. They usually have preservatives. You have to be more careful with the "use by" date on fresh products such as seafood, meats etc.

Answer 2

The sell-by date doesn't mean you can't USE it after that; just that the store can't sell it after that. If you bought it on the last day, they wouldn't expect you to use the whole bottle that day. It should be good for a while, but you've had it OPEN for a month now. It might start to lose its flavor or get that "scum" around the edges. Once you've opened a product, the date on it becomes meaningless.

Answer 3

Does it smell rotten or look like it shouldn't? If it looks and smells normal there's nothing to worry about. The good thing about all dairy products (eggs, milk, cheese, ect...) is that when they go bad you will KNOW it without any doubt whatsoever.

Answer 4

It is fine. Mine is over a year old and great.

Answer 5

if your not sick from it by now don't worry about it but i would replace it , now