[Via BBC News]
A recent study has found that in the US alone, 40% of food is thrown out, partly because of confusing date labels, telling consumers to "use by", "sell by" and "enjoy by" a certain time[.] Sometimes the dates that are put on the sides of food aren't necessarily in regards to how safe the food is to eat, sometimes it's just a notification of taste.
Dana Gunders a food scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) told the BBC that much of the food that says it's expired is actually perfectly good to still eat.
In a report called, The Dating Game: How Confusing Food DateLabels Lead to Food Waste in America, from the NRDC and Harvard Food, Law, and Policy Clinic it’s clear that many foods are still good to eat after the date on the side of their packaging. Many foods have so many preservatives and artificial additives, that their shelf life is much strong than is actually perceived.
Eggs can last up to 3-5 weeks if they are kept at a cool refrigerator temperature.
Even if milk starts to stink, it is still drinkable, but it is stressed that it should be stored at cool temperatures and should not sit open at room temperature for long periods of time.
When chocolate gets that dry, white film on its outside, it’s not mold, it’s the result of too much exposure to air.
Tortilla chips aren't going to make you sick if they go a month after their expiration, they might taste stale. A good way to fix that is to throw them in the oven for a few minutes to make them crispy.
Finally, the article mentions yogurt can still be eaten up to six weeks after the expiration. The mold can be scraped off and the yogurt is still good.
Before you go eating moldy food and for more regarding expiration dates, read the full article, here.
