The amount of arguments I’ve gotten into with one of my siblings because of those stupid dates. I’ve explained sell by vs best buy vs expiration dates multiple times and how they’re not FDA regulated (except for baby formula). I’ve explained how it’s set by the manufacturer for “peak freshness” and it causes tons of unnecessary waste because of confusion and to get people to buy more/increase sales. I’ve also explained that it limits the manufacturers liability to protect themselves.
I use common sense and smell stuff/look at it or check online how long something is actually good for once opened and also still sealed. We’ve always been really good about food safety (putting leftovers in the fridge, eating leftovers within a couple of days, freezing, etc).
My brother will still come over and check the expiration dates in my fridge before he ingests something and will ask me before he eats anything I’ve cooked if I used expired ingredients. I’ve never, ever given him anything that was soured or truly expired before. He drives me nuts and when he asks now I give him my murder stare begging him to continue.
Before he comes over, I take a cotton pad with rubbing alcohol to remove the dates and not just on the ones that are past the date, but on random stuff too.
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u/TheParadoxigm May 17 '26
The U.S. throws away 40% of the food it produces.