Expiration dates don't really mean much
While working at the hometown grocery store in high school, I spent one summer cleaning the shelves. As I removed and dusted each item and shelf, I would put the goods I found had expired in a grocery cart up front for half off.
That cart cleared out about as fast as I could fill it.
Even at that time (pre-Food Science degree and Barfblogger status), the huge demand for those products baffled me. Weren’t the dates there for a reason: to protect consumers from bad product?
The FDA says,
“Selling food past the expiration date [on most products] is not a violation of FDA's regulations or law.”
and
“When storage conditions have been optimal, many foods are acceptable in terms of taste and other quality characteristics for periods of time beyond the expiration date printed on the label, and also are safe to eat.”
Shoppers at the local grocery told me they were never afraid of getting sick. They said some things had less flavor or color, but the savings was always worth the sacrifice.
A USDA FSIS fact sheet explains,
“Except for infant formula and some baby food, product dating is not generally required by Federal regulations.”
and
“…even if the date expires during home storage, a product should be safe, wholesome and of good quality — if handled properly and kept at 40° F or below.”
So, wait... what is the purpose of providing expiration dates? Perhaps they only serve to make good food affordable in tough economic times.
The UK Telegraph reported recently that online retailer Approved Food is doing big business with the expired cart idea.
As the self-proclaimed “BIGGEST online sellers of clearance, short-dated and out-of-date food & drink” in the UK, Approved Food can’t even keep up with their demand.
A notice on Approved Food’s website today said,
“We currently have a 7-day backlog of orders that are to be processed… We strongly recommend that you place your order next week when we will have more items [for sale]."
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/admin/trackback/105238
I understand dry and canned items, what about dairy items?
My grandma is always asking me about this sort of stuff. I found the USDA FSIS fact sheet, Food Product Dating (quoted and linked to above), and printed it for her about a month ago. I think it’s a good resource for these questions.
For the short answer about dairy: the milk I had for breakfast this morning has “Best By” printed in front of 1/17/08. According to the fact sheet, “A "Best if Used By (or Before)" date is recommended for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.” So if I’m happy drinking homemade buttermilk, I could probably safely have my milk for breakfast next week, too.
as your statment , there is no need for any hygiene practices and onspection!!! because we can not know what happen in every case of the closed package or container, i mean the method of manufacturing , the hygienic practices taken, the handlingb and storage conditions specially temperature of the various steps of storing , the condition on of package itself (have pores, blowing,springers, flat or solid hydrogen ...etc)i found many cases still have 9month expiry but in bad condition from inside by testing and vice versa, so it is matter of minimum assurence of the suitability and acceptability of food items.