Not everything that is out of time has to go to the trash. Some foods may continue to be consumed safely after the indicated date, provided they respect certain conditions. The key is to realize the type of expiration date and evaluate the state of the product.
Two dates, two meanings
According to Deco Proteste, the labels of food products can indicate two types of dates: “consume even” and “consume preference before”.
The first refers to highly perishable products such as meat, fish and fresh dairy products, which should be consumed to the indicated date, as there are health risks after that.
The second applies to long-term foods such as rice, crackers or pasta, and refers only to quality rather than food safety. In these cases, food can be consumed after the deadline, as long as it retains the normal appearance and odor and has been well stored.
Foods that can be consumed after the date
Foods with minimal durability that can be consumed outside the deadline are rice, pasta, cereals, crackers, chocolate, canned and dried legumes. These products do not represent immediate health risks, but may lose taste, texture or nutritional value. Its conservation should respect the recommended conditions on the package, such as dry and fresh place, away from direct light.
When you should never risk
Products such as raw meat, fish, seafood, fresh salads, fresh milk or soft cheese with “consume even” should be discarded as soon as the indicated date.
Even if smell or appearance seem normal, the risk of contamination by bacteria such as Salmonella or Listeria increases considerably and may cause serious food poisoning.
Open packaging changes everything
The expiration date is only valid as long as the packaging remains sealed. Once opened, the count changes: a yogurt, for example, can last until the end of the closed deadline, but should be consumed within days after opening.
In these cases, it is best to follow the manufacturer’s nominations and use common sense to evaluate the state of the product.
Attention to waste
According to data from the European Commission, up to 10% of food waste in the European space is due to wrong interpretations of validity dates.
A correct reading of labels can avoid unnecessary disposal of food still suitable for consumption. It underlines that knowing the difference between the two types of date and evaluating the product with the senses is essential to reduce waste and ensure food safety.
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