Community Chat

[SilleeMee]

Many things are fine if used past the exp dates. But there are some things that can give you problems if used past their exp dates...mascara and liquid eyeliner.

Dairy, meat and produce should be tossed when they expire.

Canned stuff...just be cautious.

[Etoile308]

I find myself grocery shopping with a pair of readers, and check expiration dates before items go in my cart. 

Then when I get home for products where the dates aren't easily readable I take a marker and write across the front in large numbers the expiration date so I can see at a glance what expires soon.

This is especially true for things like cheese, meat products, but also for canned goods, and things like pasta sauces.

[SilleeMee]

If food is spoiled by bacteria, which is usually the case, then cooking it will destroy most bacteria but that doesn't make it safe. There are by-products produced by bacteria called toxins and most are not deactivated by heat nor can they be detected by taste or smell. 

It's not just the bacteria itself that can make you sick or possibly kill you, but it's the toxins that will do you in.

[Desert Lily]

Some expired medicines can be risky.

Some expired medicines can lose potency (like insulin, heart meds like nitroglycerin, epi pens, etc.)

Some expired medicines can become contaminated, such as eye drops and liquid antibiotics

Some expired medicines can become toxic, such as Tetracycline

Some medicines require refrigeration and if not stored correctly, they can lose their stability.

I never hold onto old meds.

[ROMARY]

.......Etoile:  I, too, need my small magnifying glass in order to read some of the Exp. or Best by dates.

Some are so feint that I'm often tempted to call the manufacturer of a certain vitamins/supplements company and ask them to make the print much larger and darker (or whiter) stamped on the underneath bottom of the jar/container.

What if there is a recall, and we can't even see the code/batch number?

'Anyway', I always bring my magnifying glass with me, as ridiculous as I look in the pharmacy and/or supermarket.  

[northiie57]

my biggest problem is reading the expiration dates like the top of Chobani yogurt on the top with tiny black lettering that blends in with the printed what kind of yogurt peel off lid....I actually called them to complain and wish they would but it on the bottom or sides for easy read...there's many more...instant coffee ....packaged lunch meat....some cheeses

[Sooner]

Here's a thought:  If you haven't eaten or used something in say 2 or 3 years past when it was good (who knows how long since manufactured), why do you still have it around?  You are buying and storing stuff you don't like, won't use and don't need.

So wouldn't you rather have less clutter, fewer wasted dollars sitting on shelves?

One thing we have done is toss anything old or not eaten at the end of the week before trash day.  And then stop buying stuff we don't eat.  And yes that sounds silly, but don't buy stuff you don't like and won't use.  Maybe you used to eat it but don't like it now.