Expiration of anything edible is usually a good thing, if it didn’t expire, you should question why bacteria won’t even touch it. However, not when we eat it.
Apparently majority of the population eat expired food without realising it, and the worse thing is that not only do we not get the nutrition we think we get, it also affects our body’s ability to absorb nutrition, and there are serious side effects long-term.
Expiration Date Misconception
Some people believe that the labelling is about the ‘sell-by’ date, some by the ‘use by’ date, and others something completely different. Different countries have different explanations for why they choose to encourage regulations for expiration dates. More often that not, the expiration date is an estimate. Yes food can expire before the expiration date (for example if not stored properly), and last beyond the expiration date.
The idea behind the expiration date is to give you an estimate based on the nutritional information, chemical reactions and decomposition rate. Your oats might look fine after 2 years, but they loose their nutrition as they decompose, which is not visible to the naked eye, compared to when pears decompose.
Fresh Expiration
Fresh and Raw foods are somewhat easier to spot when they are rotten, or have expired as the bacteria will give you an indication.
How to keep track of Fresh Foods?
Some foods such as Tomatoes, potatoes, etc. expire quickly when kept in the fridge, or close to Bananas, or avocados. For an indication of the different fresh foods, please see below:
Use within a week: Asparagus, Basil, Bok Choy, Chard, Chives, Kale, Okra, Radicchio, Peas, Spinach, Tomatoes, Artichokes, Leeks, Lettuce, Arugula, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Endive, Fennel, Green Beans, Mint, Mushrooms, Radishes, Zucchini, Berries, Bananas
Use within 2–4 weeks: Cabbage, Carrots, Celery, Rosemary, Thyme, Turnips, Beets, Ginger, Lemons, Limes, Potatoes, Parsnips, Onions, Squashes, Melons
Cupboard Expiration
Most cupboard foods are not intended to last beyond 2 years. Dried rice, pasta, flour, oats and commercially processed and uncooked cupboard foods will typically last at least 12 months — and up to 2 years if the package remains unopened or it is stored in an air-tight container. Oils, such as Olive oil expire after 1–2 years. Provided it is stored in a cool dark place (no exposure to light or moist). Tea and Coffee loose its taste and quality after 1–2 years, unless exposed to moisture, or air.
Frozen Expiration
The most common foods we eat that are expired are frozen. Unless you’ve eaten something expired before, you aren’t likely to look at the expiration of your frozen vegetables or fruits. They are frozen, time is frozen, right? Wrong. Time is not frozen, your freezer isn’t that cool.
When an expiration date is given for frozen foods, it is based on the chemicals and its reaction to other ingredients within the bag, and outside it. Most of these chemicals are the ones keeping the cell walls of the nutrients. While frozen foods doesn't necessary decompose at the normal rate, they expire because the nutrients are no longer there, which can happen because of ‘Freezer Burns’, which is the process of dehydration of foods due to air trapped in the packaging or other causes, including changes in temperature.
Most home freezers are not set at a certain temperature at all times, temperature changes when you open the freezer, and some even have settings of ‘shutting off’, and it is harder to maintain a lower temperature if your freezer is overloaded. So there is a limit given for freezer storage, and one you must follow to make sure your foods are stored properly.
How to Keep track of Frozen foods?
Home frozen foods have a shorter expiration date. For example, if you freeze some strawberries in a freezer bag, it can only last 1–3 month in your freezer, versus if you buy frozen strawberries (that may or may not have been added chemicals to, and blanched properly) they last 6–12 months. Why? Because, it is kept in an airtight bag, and probably frozen right after it was harvested/plucked, and usually followed the advice of the National Center for Home Food Preservation. Once you open the store-bought frozen strawberries, you should use them within 1 month.
Is Eating Expired Food Always Bad for You?
More often than not, yes, It is. Why? While the actual food might be alright, the plastic containers and bags in which it is kept will start to leak chemicals such as BPA, and antimony into the food. That is why even water bottles have an expiration date.
In the best case scenario, you won’t feel any different, or you’ll get a bad stomach for a day. Worse case will include food poisoning and sometime even infertility.