Expiration Dates on Food, Makeup, and Other Things

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

One thing that's been on my mind lately is expiration dates. I went to use a new packet of dental floss a few days ago, and it had an expiration date on it! DENTAL FLOSS! Really??? How can that product expire? It was plain and unwaxed. Of course it had expired. I stood there holding it, then finally threw it away.

DD won't open a can if it's two days past the stamped date. I will. I work in some food pantries sometimes. We have to check, and I understand that. Some people donate cans that expired 5 years earlier.

But my mom never talked about expiration dates on cans. I don't remember seeing them growing up. Of course she didn't use that many cans. She was careful about dairy products and things like that, but I don't remember seeing a date on a cereal box.

I don't remember makeup having expiration dates until recently. Maybe it has and I've missed it. Now I have trouble reading a date stamped on the crimp of a tube!

AuntMame · ‎10-16-2010

Not sure what could spoil in dental floss. None of my dental floss containers have an expiration date. Just checked.

Years ago I had a bottle of Paul Mitchell Shampoo with an expired expiration date. I called Paul Mitchell. Their customer service rep said it's meaningless, just use the shampoo, your hair won't fall out.

I have grown mindful of how long I hold onto some packaged foods. Like dried beans, rice, flour. They grow stale after a while even though their expiration date may be a year or longer in the future. I try to use those things up and not let them sit on the shelf forever.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@beach-mom

A LOT of those dates are just "Best By" or "Use By" for best results.

If a can of tomatoes has an expiration date of June 30th it doesn't automatically and magically go bad on July 1st.

I've read that several states are changing what's allowed on product labeling. Americans toss approximately $2 billion of perfectly good food into the garbage every year.

Think about that for a moment.

This is the most logical guideline:

Most food is still safe to eat after the expiration date, as these dates often indicate peak quality rather than safety. It's best to use your senses—smell, taste, and appearance—to determine if the food is spoiled

CalminHeart · ‎03-09-2010

Growing up, there weren't expiration dates on most things or we just ignored them. There were fewer pesticides, preservatives, nitrates, etc, in food back then. example:

Milk was bad when it soured.

Eggs never expired in the fridge.

Canned food was expired if the top was domed.

Lettuce stayed fresh longer.

Soda was in bottles and stayed fizzy much longer.

Now, there are so many additives in food that can make a person sick. I'm not a stickler about expiration dates (except milk) but do watch the condition and taste of products.

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

I too wonder about many things & expiration dates...I pay close attention to some (like on my meats, dairy (except I've often used an unopened yogurt up to a month beyond it's date and it was always fine), less on some others, that I use beyond the dates.

I, like others have said here, use my common sense, instincts, smell, how it looks etc.

@beach-mom I was surprised only recently, on one of my old toiletry purges, noticed my toothpastes and dental flosses had exp. dates?! Toothpaste, I can see, though I'd never even known or thought about it before, and had been using the little travel sized ones that accumulate from the dentist give aways for years over the dates. I'm sure those must have to do with effectiveness of ingredients, like whiteners etc, rather than safety. I did wind up tossing some older little toothpastes. The dental flosses I'm not worried about. I also will NEVER used them in my lifetime I have so many accumulated! I prefer the little picks better, easier, cleaner to use. Why I save the rest I'm not sure, lol.

I can't read the dates half the time either....I just recently was trying to read one on the wrinkled plastic end of a tube, white on white lettering, and said outloud...."If this is SO important WHY do they make it impossible to read?!!" lol

Eggs I've used a week or so beyond date fine.

Condiments I've used up to a year beyond without a problem.(even opened, refrigerated ones.)

I also always tend to feel anything with vinegar in it, pickled, lasts longer than it says....the vinegar curing it.

One time I called Helmann's cust. svc line with a question...they educated me about mayo a lot...said most of the time it's whatever you've made with the mayo that can't sit out (like at picnics) for long, not the mayo that goes bad. And other things they told me that day, can't recall all the details, but overall takeaway was that mayonnaise lasts way longer than we think.

I once took an online class on food safety...very interesting and informative. I can't recall the details; often thought a refresher would be good. I learned about proper temps, how to store leftovers right away, before they sit out 40 degrees or higher, that bacteria starts forming right away then...stuff like that I've kept in mind.

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

I usually check for expiration dates on canned things or that are in boxes when I buy at the grocery store and when I clean out my pantry and fortunately, DD and I use up the items that spoil the soonest--produce , meats, dairy. bread etc. but one day, I was going thru my many tiny jars of herbs/spices and found--OMG---I still chuckle over this--a tiny jar of cr of tartar---are you ready???? from 1995!!! DD was appalled!!! that is how often---I use cr of tartar. I kept it--not to use, but just to laugh over. I dump liquid make up regularly--just don't wear it much any more and mascara is another one that can smell funky too. Don't remember my mom ever concerned about that--like someone wrote--if it had mold on it or smells bad--out it goes.

beckyb1012 · ‎03-09-2010

I check expiration dates on perishables but can food/pantry items have to be very well past the date for me to throw them out. Same for pain relievers and ointments. A few months ago I took the last two Bufferin in a bottle in my desk drawer at the office. The expiration date said March 2012. Headache disappeared and I am still alive.

"Live frugally, but love extravagantly."

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

Last week I pulled out a carton of eggs to check the date. I was amazed to discover they expired in March. I decided to hardboiled them anyway to see how they looked and tasted, then give them to the dog if okay.

They were fine, I ate part of one and it tasted like a normal hard boiled egg. Dog loved them.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

I don't pay much attention to expiration dates except on protein and dairy. The only canned product I buy is tuna and it's good for.a long time. I use eggs well past the date on the carton. Mostly, they dry out. If they don't smell bad when cracked, I use them.

I am extremely cautious about cross-contamination and keeping food at safe temperatures.