Date labels on foods are not regulated by the federal government, with the exception of baby food and formula. In much of the U. Although the terminology that manufacturers use varies across the U. And the confusion adds up. But the issue of food waste affects more than our wallets — food waste comes with tremendous environmental costs as well.
Wasted food means wasted energy, water and fuel from production, transport and storage. But that forgotten container of sour cream in the back of the fridge is another story.
Data on food poisoning from expired food is scarce, but Devin Bowes, a nutritional epidemiologist at Arizona State University, explained that the bulk of food-borne illnesses typically arise from unsanitary food prep or improper storage. To that end, our basic senses — sight, touch and smell, in particular — are attuned to many of the signs that food is no longer safe to eat.
One of the best ways to combat this is to only purchase an amount of food your household can realistically consume. And food preservation methods like freezing can safely extend the shelf life of many foods. But if you find yourself in the middle of making dinner and aren't sure if a key ingredient has gone bad, referring to USDA guidelines and paying attention to sensory clues can also go a long way toward reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses.
Research has found that sell-by dates on milk cartons significantly influence perceptions of safety — which results in a lot of milk spilled down the drain. But as long as milk has been properly refrigerated, it should be still drinkable up to a week past the date label — and maybe up to two weeks, depending on the temperature of your refrigerator.
But not everyone is throwing away milk that makes noses crinkle. You might want to draw the line when milk starts to get chunky, though. First, is it near or past the milk expiration date? Second, open the carton and breathe deeply. Bad milk has a strong sour smell. It is also usually lumpy in texture.
It is not likely that you will mistake milk that has gone bad. Milk turns sour due to the small number of bacteria that survived the pasteurization process having time to multiply and produce lactic acid.
Sour milk is NOT safe to drink! I doubt that you would be tempted. It can last a solid week longer when stored well; however, not storing milk properly will cause it to go bad early. Pasteurization methods have extended the shelf life of milk to several weeks from the time of processing when otherwise it would go bad after only a single week if not used. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you may rest assured that you may enjoy your milk for the longest period of time possible.
Opened milk, on the other hand, may last just two to three days after the "best if used by" date. That said, the USDA explains that milk that has gone bad will almost certainly make itself known. They suggest that most people will be able to spot a questionable carton using their basic senses. If a food has developed such spoilage characteristics, it should not be eaten," the agriculture authority explains.
They say the product should still be safe "until spoilage is evident," even "if the date passes during home storage. According to a new survey of 2, Americans conducted by One Poll on behalf of Noluma, milk is the food item most likely to expire in your fridge. While one in five respondents said they would still consume an item which has passed its use-by date, four out of five say they'd toss a product that's labeled as past its prime.
They also found that the cost of these expired products can really add up over time. In other words, nearly 20 percent of your money spent on groceries will likely go down the drain due to product expiration. And for more smarter living tips delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. When milk is stored on the refrigerator door's shelves, it's being exposed to warm air each time it's opened, which encourages bacterial growth. If you think that your milk might have prematurely expired, use your senses' best judgment.
If a food has developed such spoilage characteristics, it should not be eaten," says the United States Department of Agriculture. You'll never have to worry about these 9 foods ever expiring , though. For you. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts.
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