Did you know foods, even shelf-stable foods like flour and canned foods, can expire? In this post, we cover the basics around food and ingredient expiration dates.
Do all foods and ingredients expire?
Most foods and ingredients expire or become unusable at some point in time, with few exceptions.
Are all foods and ingredients required to have an expiration date legally?
Neither the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nor the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires foods and ingredients to contain expiration dates, use by dates, or other sorts of quality identifying dates for any foods and ingredients other than infant formulas (1,2).
Food and ingredient manufacturers often include production dates, optimal consumption dates, and/or spoilage information, that information is legally required to be factual. However, companies may use different terms and take different approaches to share this information based on the products they produce.
While this can be confusing, there are industry efforts tostreamline and standardizethe language used to describe food optimal use dates.
What are the differences in terms and date types?
You may see different terms and date types on the packaging, below are common practices and their meaningsaccording to the USDAand FDA (1,2,3):
- Best if used by/before:this term is NOT an expiration date, rather it’s the date where the food may be at its best quality
- Use by:on any food OTHER than infant formula, this term is NOT an expiration date, rather it’s the date where the food may be at its best quality. If “used by” is present on infant formula, it’s an expiration date,andyou should discardthe infantformulaafter the use by date.
- Sell by:this term is NOT an expiration date, rather it’s the date where the food may be at its best quality
- Freeze by:this term is NOT an expiration date, rather it’s the date where the food should be frozen to maintainthebest quality
- ExpirationorEXP:this isanexpiration date and usually only found on infant formula and some baby foods
- Guaranteed fresh:this term is NOT an expiration date, rather it’s the date where the food may be at its best quality
Do preserved foods,like canned goods,expire?
Yes, canned goods and ingredients can and do expire.
High-acid preserved foods like tomato and fruits can expire after 12-18 months. Low-acid preserved foods like meats and vegetables can stay fresh for 2-5 years.
However, if the containers are rusted, dented, bloated, or in any other way damaged,youshould not consumethe preserved food as it could be unsafeorcontaminated.
If you’re unsure if a food or ingredient is safe to use, the USDA created a free digital app,FoodKeeper, that allows you to look up a food or ingredient and see the typical lifespan ofthefood or ingredient based on the storage condition. It’s free and available to use on a computer or download on an apple or android device.
Doshelf-stabledry ingredients like flour, beans,and other ingredients expire?
Yes, dry ingredients like flour, beans, pastas,and more expire and can become unsafe to consume.
Different dry goods expire at different rates depending on many factors, including how they are stored. For example, all-purpose flour stored in a pantry has a shelf-life of approximatelyoneyear;dry egg-free pasta stored in a pantry has a shelf-life of approximatelytwoyears;sugar is one of the exceptions in that it never spoils, but should be used withintwoyears to ensurethebest quality.
It’s best to look up specific dry ingredients using the USDA food safety app,FoodKeeper,to see if it’s safe to consume.
Are eggs, dairy products, and meats labeled for expiration?
While not required,the majority ofegg, dairy, and meat producers that fall under the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) choose to include quality and expiration dates.
When these labels are voluntarily applied, producers are required to label the products in a way that is easy to understand, truthful, andcomplies with FSIS regulations.
Do frozen foods expire?
No, frozen foodsdo not expire. However, they may not taste good due to freezer burn and texture changes caused by freezing.
How can we tell when foods are expired if there is no expiration date?
If there isn’t apreciseexpiration date, there are many other ways to identify expired foods and ingredients. Often there will be achangein the color, texture, consistency, odor, and/or tastecaused bymicrobes and/or oxidation.
Microbes that spoil foods and ingredients are undesirable bacteria, fungi, and yeasts that can grow in our food products. These microorganisms feed off the foods’ nutrients and can cause serious harm to humans if consumed. Bacteria such as listeria and botulism can invade our foods and,if consumed, can cause us to become critically ill. Less harmful bacteria, fungi, and yeasts will grow on foods making them inedible.
Oxidation, which is a term for certain types of chemical reactions, can impact food safety and flavor by causingan undesirable chemical change that can turn fats rancid and can cause vegetables and fruits, such as cut potatoes and apples, to brown. Enzymes and other chemicalbreakdown processes are responsible for the oxidation that transforms foods into an unpalatable, and at times, unsafe product.
If you’re unsure if a food or ingredient is safe to use, the USDA created a free digital app,FoodKeeper, that allows you to look up a food or ingredient and see the typical lifespan ofthefood or ingredient based on the storage condition.It’s free and available to use on a computer or download on an apple or android device.
How can I easily keep track of expiration dates?
You only need three supplies to label expiration dates on food and ingredients:
- Masking tape
- Marker
- FoodKeeperapp
Howto calculate and label the food expiration date:
- Look up the food or ingredient using theFoodKeeperapp.
- Identify the storage condition you plan touseand the lifespan recommended for that storage condition.
- Put a piece of tape on the food or ingredient.
- Use the purchased,manufactured,or the “best if used by/before” dateto calculate the expiration date.
- Writethe expiration date on the tapethat’s on the productand then store accordingly.
A word of caution.
It’s critical to pay close attention to how you store your food,and to follow food and ingredient cooking best practices (1,2). It’salsoimportant to note thetypical lifespan of foods. For example, meat, dairy, and produceexpire rapidly while shelf-stable foodswhen stored properly can be safe for a much longerperiod of time.
When in doubtabout the quality or safety of a food or ingredient, it’sbest to toss out the food rather than risk illness.
The good news.
At the time of publication, we are still battling COVID-19 and it can be tempting to stockpile foods and ingredients. Knowing which foods and ingredients are safe to store for extended periods of time and which are not, helps us make better decisions.
It also reminds us that if we choose to store foods and ingredients for longer periods of time, it’s important to store them properly and use them promptly soweare not unintentionally wasteful.
