Contributed by Eddie Ezelle, MatSu Food Bank
Ever wondered about those dates on food products? You know the “best by”, “sell by” or “use by” dates? I really admire the person that came up with this and hope he made lots of money from it, because it has caused Americans to toss out enough good food to feed everyone in America and probably well beyond.
Why? I found a good, succinct explanation in the Inspire Magazine put out by the Mat-Su Health Foundation as follows:
“The Dating Game.
Contrary to popular belief, “best by,” “sell by,” and “use by” dates on food packages don’t have anything to do with food safety. Food producers set these dates to indicate when a food is of the best quality, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, not that a food is unsafe to eat after that date. Only infant formula is required to have a “use by” date and in that case, it is meant to ensure nutrient levels remain as advertised.
Food can spoil long before - or remain edible for days to weeks after - a “best by” date. You can use these dates as a general guideline to measure how good a food will taste. However, to save money and reduce waste, the USDA advises using your senses to determine if something is safe to eat: If food, particularly meat, has a bad odor or feels sticky or slimy, toss it. If a food has simply changed color, it’s likely still safe. Oxidation can cause color changes during storage, and it doesn’t necessarily indicate spoilage.” (Italics added.)
I know people who pour milk down the drain because it was one day out of date. It is still good! Best way to check, pour some in a glass and smell it. I say pour it because sometimes the residue right around the pour spout may mislead you to think the whole carton is bad. If there is no unusual odor, take a sip. (No, one sip will not kill you!) If, however, the milk comes out in clumps… it’s probably not good. Probably doesn’t smell good either. If you have a septic, pour it down the drain and it can help your bacteria needed for the septic to work well, work better.
We as Americans waste more resources than most of the world. This is not just in food, but in anything else you can imagine, from metals, wood and plastics to household items including the house. We are a throw-away society. No wonder the rest of the world treats us as ugly Americans.
So, what can we do? We can change our attitudes. We can recycle, upcycle or share things we no longer need or want with someone else that may use the items. This is true especially in our state because we don’t always have the resources other areas of the country have. Food is a major part of that waste, but even here it can be recycled. Know any farmers raising live stock? Maybe they can feed the animals. Do you garden? Compost works, and there are ways to keep it going even in our winters. The Cooperative Extension at the University here can help point you in the right direction.
Working in food as we do at the MatSu Food Bank, it is a constant thing to try to explain to people about the dates on items. It is so ingrained; in general, most people don’t even think about it. If the date has passed, they think it must be tossed out, it must be bad. This is simply not true.
I am aware of exceptions to the rules; I can think of several, but I only have so much space to use here. Massive amounts of useable foods go to waste every day in Alaska and in America, in general.
If you want to help save landfills, feed more people and animals AND save on your budget, then really explore and study the “use by”, “best buy” and “sell by” dates on food products.
If you still just aren’t sure, feel free to come visit (volunteer?) with us, and we can explain more about those darn dates.
And by the way, we will gladly accept that expired food out of your pantry, just bring it by!
