Food safety

rinabean

The mould growing on cheese in your fridge isn't the same as the stuff they deliberately introduce. And generally it will have "roots" quite deep down into the food, so scraping the top off won't do you much good. I've never heard of anyone dying of it, but try to avoid it if you can!

Processed dried food is always fine for a while after the date. They're only best befores, they just might be a bit stale after a year. Wholegrains will turn rancid if stored incorrectly or too long after the date (including and especially flour) and beans will take longer to cook until they won't cook at all, so watch those. I don't eat mouldy fresh food or bulging tins and cans. I'm not risking botulism for 30p! But I'll eat veg where part is rotting if I can see that it's just the ends or a bruise that can be cut away.

There is a huge difference between bacteria introduced to ferment foods and the stuff floating around in your fridge, I'm really surprised that people don't realise this. Fermenting is really very hygienic, you keep everything very very clean unless it's the actual bacteria you want. You have to make sure only that bacteria is being fed, it's not just about shoving things to the back of the fridge and letting stuff grow on them! That is not how they make stilton, haha! I think it's best to focus on buying the right amount of fresh foods instead, which means avoiding, freezing or giving away all the bogofs they tempt you with.

SailorSam

I didn't know that about the green mould on your cheese, i've cut it off in the past. I'll be a bit more careful in future. Thanks rinabean.

redlady_1

I have some UHT milk which was dated May 2011. I will open it and have alook rather than throwing it away

annie123

bump..............

Penelope_Penguin

SailorSam wrote: »

I found a packet unopened in the cupboard yesterday of Butter Beans dated use by Jan 11, but what can go wrong with dried stuff ?

Pulses past their date aren;t a problem from a health pov, but they may be tough and take longer to cook

As this has fallen from the front page of OS, I'll add it to the existing thread on "dates" to keep ideas together.

geri1965_2

I get a but fed up of saying this, but you can't always tell if food has gone off by the smell of it. Use by dates are important, and food used after this date can be harmful to health. Best before dates are simply a guide, and food is safe to eat even after these have expired.

I'm not perfect and I will occasionally risk using food that has gone past it's use by date, but if you are feeding the young or the elderly, or someone with a compromised immune system, it is better to play safe that risk making them ill.

zippychick

Ive mrged this with our food safety thread

Zip

Biggles

zippychick wrote: »

Ive mrged this with our food safety thread

Is there no way you can get rid of the confusing poll?

The thread title is all about 'food safety/sell by/use by dates' and the poll says 'eat the gone off ready meal?', which is nothing to do with sell by/use by dates. I'm not sure what question the people who have voted in the poll are answering.

lynzpower

geri1965 wrote: »

I get a but fed up of saying this, but you can't always tell if food has gone off by the smell of it. Use by dates are important, and food used after this date can be harmful to health. Best before dates are simply a guide, and food is safe to eat even after these have expired.

I'm not perfect and I will occasionally risk using food that has gone past it's use by date, but if you are feeding the young or the elderly, or someone with a compromised immune system, it is better to play safe that risk making them ill.

+1

Especially if someone is pregnant :eek:

jollyanna

Atora light vegetable suet - I have an unopened packet with b.b.e. March 2011.
If it smells and looks OK, would it be risky to make dumplings to eat, please ?