Do you follow Use by and Sell by Dates, and other food safety issues

Rowan_2

helping_hubby wrote: »

I have to be a bit careful because I can't smell, so if my hubbys not around I'll tend to bin meat/eggs/milk than risk it. I personally think a couple of days or so is OK, depending on the food.

I'd be more careful with prawns, and I'm strict with cooked leftovers.

I am the same. I drank 1/2 pint of "off" milk today because I had no idea it was off My husband couldnt even taste it as it was apparently that bad. Sigh. My test for milk is to see if it looks OK if I pour a little into the sink. Apparently thats not a good enough test.

Ah well.

That asides, I ask my husband to smell if I think I have had something in the fridge too long, failing that, it has to be mouldy before I throw it out. Well, unless its hard cheese, then the mould gets cut off :A

mollymunchkin

Normally I don't object to things being a couple of days past the use by date but today my MIL was offering my DS Rice Krispies that had a date of 25/05/06 on! She might have the constitution of an ox but he doesn't (he's only 2, bless).

BIL also used some ground black pepper which was 10 years out of date :eek:

milkydrink

I NEVER use things after the dates run out:eek:

But I do practice rotation in the fridge & cupboards:D

But I still throw far too much out:o

Ticklemouse

I'm a "look, smell and taste" person. If it's still ok, it gets eaten.

In fact, I found a packet of ham in the fridge last week that was unopened but 2 weeks past its use by date :eek: I'm not usually such a slovenly mare but I had put a large lock & lock box with cheese in on top of it - which completely covered it - and I could still get to the cheese without taking the box out. It was one of those slim packs from Lidl with the expensive honey roast ham in - so I opened it and tested it - it's fine and is still being used. I expect I'll have some for my lunch today.

As for tins .... I have a friend who throws tinned tomatoes out if they are 2 weeks out of date!! If she lived nearer she could throw them my way If the tin is undamaged, then the food's OK

stressedoutmumof1

A friend once told me that farmer's only get paid for their meat (ie chicken) once it is sold at the till. If it hasn't sold by it's use by date it then gets taken off the shelves and out of it's packaging and taken to auction - where the likes of say Birds Eye buy it for their frozen pies and curries etc. After that (2 - 3 days later) all the rest that hasn't sold goes to another auction where Chinese and Indian restaurants but the meat for their kitchens. So I would say where meat is concerned if it smells okay then use it.

emmaroids

as said before, if it smells and looks ok then it will be ok.

as if somethings gonna go bad the second it gets to the use by date lol.

QueenB.

I try and make sure i don't have anything go past a use by date by checking all the dates and using the in the weekly menu what needs to go first.

With things that don't have them on then like others have said its a look, and taste test before i decide to bin or use.

Dairy and meat based food i am more cautious of but again i just try and do a weekly check of all cupboards, fridge etc to make sure i use rather than waste.

Softstuff

If it looks ok it gets sniffed, if it smells ok it gets tasted, if it tastes ok I eat it.

About the only exception here is chicken, but I buy that, separate it into portions and freeze it. I only take it out when I want to use it, so it never has the opportunity to get risky.

immoral_angeluk

I use stuff until it's use by date before throwing. We have a toddler so don't want to take the risk making her ill. Will quite happily use things past their best before dates though as long as they look and smell ok.

Mr_Proctalgia

Imade Toad in the Hole yesterday, the eggs had a "Use By Date" of the 6th!




















Of February!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


It tasted luvverly.

....and I ain't died either.