When opened eat within 3 days?

sassyblue

Hi all,

This morning l packed some mini sausages in DS's lunchbox and spotted that warning on the packet, they looked and smelled okay so l put some in. Now l'm sat here at work and thinking that the packet was opened last Thursday 21st, so we are 2 days past the 'eat within 3 days', so l was wondering what you thought?

How strict should you be with these warnings? The sell by date was 1st March so they are well within date. Would you still eat them?

TIA x

Teahfc

If you had got them from a Butcher /Baker with no date on them would you still eat them ?

Supermarkets love top cover their backsides with such things as eat within this that and the other.

With the amount of preservaties in the meat itself would be good for at least 7 days after they are opened.

More supermarket scaremongering and marketing so you eat some, throw some away then have to restock.

lindseykim13

Hmm we don't personally go past the 3 days, i think it has something to do with once the pack is opened it is no longer in a sealed germ free enviroment and the going off process starts once it hits air. I'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong.
I've just had to throw bacon out which i opened last weekend for that reason. Smelt and looked fine but couldn't risk it.

Same for when you cook some meat yourself like a chicken, you have to use it up within 3 days.

Pamsy

Sorry sassyblue, this probably isn't what you want to hear, but I would have thrown them away. I wouldn't eat anything that had been opened any longer than the 3 days.

Mojisola

For me, it would depend how the food had been stored. If it had been sitting around in the kitchen and getting warm, I'd be concerned.

If it had been out of the fridge for the minimum time needed and replaced, I'd still eat it.

chesky

I treat it as just a guide. If I've had something sitting in a carrier bag in the car for half a day, then I'd keep to the guidelines. Probably. But I'd also use my nose and if it looked OK and smelt OK then I'd give it a whirl. If it tasted OK then I'd finish it. It's what we've got our eyes, noses and tastebuds for. I'm pretty old now and still here.

McKneff

It means 'eat within 3 days once opened, so no, I would have chucked them. But that's just me, lots wouldnt and Im sure youre little one will be okay.

Murtle

I would check to see if they are ok and then when they are - eat them.

I didn't realise so many people still throw stuff away the moment it hits the suggested time period.

Murtle

lindseykim13 wrote: »

Hmm we don't personally go past the 3 days, i think it has something to do with once the pack is opened it is no longer in a sealed germ free enviroment and the going off process starts once it hits air. I'm sure someone will correct me if i'm wrong.
I've just had to throw bacon out which i opened last weekend for that reason. Smelt and looked fine but couldn't risk it.

Same for when you cook some meat yourself like a chicken, you have to use it up within 3 days.

I don't think that is true - I am fairly certain that factories are not germ free environments as they have people working in them. The meat itself will have some level of germs in it, doesn't everything. The *going off* process will already have started but will be delayed if frozen, submerged in brine (or similar) salted or vacum packed.

You didn't have to throw the bacon out, you chose to throw it out

x

lindseykim13

Murtle wrote: »

I don't think that is true - I am fairly certain that factories are not germ free environments as they have people working in them. The meat itself will have some level of germs in it, doesn't everything. The *going off* process will already have started but will be delayed if frozen, submerged in brine (or similar) salted or vacum packed.

You didn't have to throw the bacon out, you chose to throw it out

x

Yes quite correct i chose not to give myself or my kids food poisoning.
I think any normal person would throw bacon out after it had been sat open for 8/9 days.

lindseykim13

From the FSA Ireland website

What if a product has been opened but is still within its use-by/best-before date?If a product has been opened, then the expiry date on the label becomes irrelevant. Follow manufacturers’ instructions in relation to the length of time the product is safe to eat after opening. Many manufacturers will carry information such as ‘use within 3 days of opening’ on the label.
How are best-before/use-by dates established?Manufacturers must conduct studies to determine if the food product complies with microbiological criteria throughout the products shelf-life. The FSAI has produced Guidance Note No. 18 - Validation of Product Shelf-life to assist manufacturers determine shelf-life.

http://www.fsai.ie/faqs/best_before_and_use_by_dates.html