Food Expiration Dates, Use By and Sell By Dates: Do you pay attention to these?

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Food Expiration Dates, Use By and Sell By Dates: Do you pay attention to these?

by W_C Posted October 07, 2009 23:50:37

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+8 raves

There was an interesting article on ABC about 'use by' and 'sell by' dates on food in the super markets. A study done showed that poorer areas had and sold a lot more expired foods than those in the wealthier neighborhoods. However, even if you buy the food before it's expired, not everyone uses them up. Most states don't have laws about having to have expiration dates on their food either. So, I was just wondering, are you a stickler for using food before it's "gone bad?"

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/DyeHard/eat-expired-food/Sto...

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	Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates. 71% 27 votes
	No. I don't pay close attention to food sell by dates. 16% 6 votes
	If my food smells bad, tastes bad, or looks funny-- then I pay attention. 13% 5 votes

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dtremaine November 09, 2009 23:09:16

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
Why would someone spend hard earned money on expired products? In fact when I'm looking I reach further back in the rack to find later dates.
Don
brittany November 01, 2009 18:16:34

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
yes. i look at the dates why wouldn't i.
FarmerJon October 30, 2009 12:46:50

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
(User did not leave a comment)
Talon0408 October 28, 2009 12:17:14

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
Ingles is the worst for selling expired food.
fofoguit October 09, 2009 22:26:28

Answered: If my food smells bad, tastes bad, or looks funny-- then I pay attention.
if i am smelling or seeing something that smells or looks bad i am totally paying fully attention
K-ZOOMI October 09, 2009 15:14:25

Answered: No. I don't pay close attention to food sell by dates.
benjaminb007 October 09, 2009 12:33:37

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
Unless you want to eat expired food, I'd pay attention to them. I know the stores do everything they can to make sure they don't sell expired food, but I check them anyways, especially the milk. The stores check the items but after all, they're humans too and mistakes happen. I don't want to get sick or die because of someone's mistake.
swimminggirl09 October 08, 2009 22:58:21

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
i dont pay that close of attention but i do check it when that food has been in my house for awhile or something haha
none October 08, 2009 20:46:47

Answered: No. I don't pay close attention to food sell by dates.
I think it depends on what you're buying.
A Kahn October 08, 2009 19:05:10

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
while buying it at the store yes, however the only ones I pay attention to at home is milk and eggs. Canned and jared stuff-as long as it is still sealed when I open it and it looks and tastes OK, who cares-no one has gotten sick or died yet.
wolfshadow October 08, 2009 17:54:37

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
And they aren't accurate anymore for shit.

Used to be on milk you had a few days AFTER the date before it went bad, now it's bad a day or two before the date. Bread is the same. I have seen bread with green spots the day before the expiration date... Bagged lettuce, just bought some, was bad two days before the date.

There ought to be a law.
TLDMAT October 08, 2009 17:25:00

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
I don't take the dates as absolutes but when I am buying something I want the freshest or longest lasting product and I use the dates to help determine that.
Additionally when I find something in the fridge or cupboard and don't remember buying it, the dates help me to decide if I want to even risk trying it.
nicolejade October 08, 2009 16:34:59

Answered: If my food smells bad, tastes bad, or looks funny-- then I pay attention.
(User did not leave a comment)
Trader1 is kerbonkin' October 08, 2009 16:30:47

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
I won't touch milk when it reaches it's expiration date. Everyone else in the house will still drink it if it still smells and tastes good, but I've been know to toss a whole gallon down the drain. The rest of the stuff we usually use before it's time is up.
Scott October 08, 2009 16:07:50

Answered: If my food smells bad, tastes bad, or looks funny-- then I pay attention.
I use them more as a guideline. Meats and fish I'm pretty strict on. Others can slide by a few days.
birdman October 08, 2009 15:46:46

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
Especially on refrigerated products and medicines. On canned goods and dry packaged goods I don't, but I avoid dented cans and damaged boxes. I always check a just-opened item anyways, because if it was stored/transported at improper temps, even something still within its freshness date can be unsafe.
dogs voice October 08, 2009 14:39:19

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
Generally I do. Especially when purchasing dairy products. I am usually not too fussy about food and drink, but if something is "off" in color, aroma, taste, texture, then I will specifically look at sell by or expiration dates. I would also like to make it a point to all readers, the Sell By and Expiration dates are not always synonomous! Most items will still be OK to comsume for up to 10 days AFTER the Sell By date. Common sense and personal judgement should be used when making a determination of edibleness.
Brian Kemp October 08, 2009 14:23:04

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
On certain things. Who really cares what the expiration date on a Twinkie is?
KOKO October 08, 2009 14:16:51

Answered: Yes. I pay close attention to food expiration dates and sell by dates.
Yes I pay pretty close attn. I pitch it if its to old Whats more important 5 $ pork or getting really really sick I'd rather be out a few dollars I don't like to waste I try to freeze and defrost and use on time but sometimes you get busy and we weren't home and it defrosted in the fridge to long I don't feel educated on how to use the dates wisely like on a show I seen they said eggs are good for like a month after there sell by date ??? who knows better safe than sorry if you don't know
Denny October 08, 2009 06:18:25

Answered: No. I don't pay close attention to food sell by dates.
Wife does. Example unless milk has lumps in it, it's still ok to me.