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Food Safety - Is It Still Good To Eat?

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Many people call asking about specific foods and whether they are still safe to consume. One way to judge is by checking the food product dating. Understanding the types of dates can help you make a decision. The following terms may appear on products you buy:

• "Sell by" date - indicates how long the store should display the product. Buy foods before this date has passed.
• "Best if used by" - this indicates when the quality and freshness is best. Foods are safe to purchase and consume after this date.
• "Use by" date - the manufacturer recommends consuming by this date for best quality.
• "Coded dates" - these packing numbers are used by stores to allow them to rotate stock and respond to recalls.

Each manufacturer determines their own system of coding. Some use letters of the alphabet to indicate months, some use the Julian calendar for days of the year. Unless you know the coding system, trying to figure out when a product was packaged can be like trying to solve a Chinese puzzle.

Products that are past their expiration date may still be safe to eat. A local food bank calls the companies and asks them how far past the expiration date their food is safe to eat. Some people donate food product to them that has been on their shelves for months and years that they decide they are not going to use. Brand-name manufacturers often have a toll-free number on the package, which makes it convenient and cost-free to call and ask how to decode the packing number or how long it is safe to eat.

A general guideline for canned goods is:

• Low-acid canned goods like canned meats, poultry, stew, soups (except tomato) and most vegetables are best used within 2-5 years.
• High-acid canned goods like fruit, tomato products, sauerkraut or pickled products are suggested to be used within 12-18 months.

A health inspector told me that as long as the can is in good shape and has maintained its vacuum, it is safe to consume past its expiration date. The quality (taste, vitamin content, etc.), however, may have declined, so you may want to discard it.

Do not buy canned goods that are dented on the rim or seam, or have a sharp indent on the sides or those that have rust. Never use a product that is leaking or bulging or spurts out when opened. This may be a sign of botulism growing in the food, and even one taste can be fatal. Make sure you hear the vacuum "pop" when opening jarred goods. If the seal has been broken, discard where people or animals cannot consume.

Never use baby food or formula that is past the expiration date. Babies and infants are especially vulnerable to food-borne illness because their immune systems are not fully developed.

Shelf-stable packaged goods that contain foods with natural or added oils can become rancid, especially if stored in above-average temperatures for a period of time. Check crackers, whole grain products, nuts, seeds and snack foods that contain fat periodically by smelling the contents. If rancid, they will have an off-odor and usually a bitter taste. Discard these products.

For a free copy of food storage chart, call the Penn State Cooperative Extension office in Northampton County at 610-746-1970 and request a mailing.

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