Eggs will last 3 to 4 weeks past their “sell-by” dates if stored properly.
Don’t feel alone if the terms “sell-by” or “best if used by” confuse you.
Emily M. Broad Leib, a lecturer in Food Law and Policy at Harvard Law School and the co-founder of Harvard’s Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC), states “The labeling system is aimed at helping consumers understand freshness, but it fails - they think it’s about safety. And (consumers) are wasting money and wasting food because of this misunderstanding.”
A recent study done by Harvard Law School’s Food Law and Policy Clinic and the Natural Resource’s Defense Council exposes the truth behind expiration dates and offers suggestions to food manufacturers on how to better set these dates. The study looked at rates of waste, finding that 90% of consumers throw food away on the sell by date. As a result, about 160 billion tons of food is wasted every year. An average family of four throws away approximately $1,560 worth of perfectly good food each year. That equals roughly 120 pounds per month, per household.
Lieb explains, as a result of the confusion and misconceptions by consumers over these dates, not only are we throwing away good food, but we’re also wasting considerable natural resources, labor, taxes, landfill space and we’re harming the environment.
University of Minnesota food safety scientist Dr. Theodore Labuza, who reviewed the Harvard study, said that in his over 30 years of researching date labels, he was unaware of any outbreaks of illness related to food being kept in the refrigerator or on the shelf past an expiration date, as long as it was stored properly. When asked in a recent interview what he recommends people do to ensure the safety of their food, Labuza stated, “People should keep their refrigerator below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. I keep mine at 34 degrees, and I can get a six week shelf life on an unopened container of milk, and I can keep steak in there without having to freeze it for 14 days. This is VERY temperature dependent. One hour outside the refrigerator is equivalent to 24 hours in a refrigerator. The lower the temperature, the better.”
Plenty of perishables have a shelf life beyond their “sell-by” dates. Lieb listed some dates and advice that may help consumers:
*Milk and dairy products should be the last thing you purchase before checking out at the grocery store. This will minimize the time it’s left unrefrigerated. Milk should also be stored at the very back of the refrigerator where air tends to be colder and it’s not as exposed to warmer air when the refrigerator is opened.
*Eggs will last 3 to 4 weeks past their “sell-by” dates if stored properly on the shelf in the refrigerator verses on the refrigerator door.
*Hard cheeses will last 3 to 4 months beyond their “sell-by” date if wrapped in moisture-proof plastic. She advises if the outside forms a visible mold, trim the mold and a ½ inch area of the cheese around it.
*Yogurt will last 10 days to 2 weeks beyond the “sell-by” date if stored around 39 degrees Fahrenheit. “Don’t worry if it separates; just stir it up and dig in. Toss it if it has any visible sign of mold or a bad odor.”
*Lunch meat will last 3 to 5 days past the “sell-by” date if it’s sealed. Lieb states, “Always eyeball it before you consume it. If it has a yucky green, slimy film get rid of it!”
*Freezer kept food – food will last a long time if your freezer is set at zero degrees, but for every 5 degree increments in temperature, the storage time cuts in half. Lieb reminds consumers, “Freezing does not kill bacteria, so remember to cook it thoroughly and follow the fridge rules when you take it out.”
*Raw meat kept in the freezer – “Raw poultry, pork and beef in the form of steaks or roasts will last up to 12 months stored properly in the freezer. Ground beef and cooked meats will only be good for about 3 to 4 months,” says Lieb.
*Pantry kept foods – Unopened oils will last for about 6 months. Opened oils will only last about half that time. Ground herbs and spices will last for 6 months; whole spices will last for about 2 years.
*Pasta, Rice and Sugar – will last for about a year
*Canned goods – Unopened – will last for between 2 and 5 years.
Always use your best judgment. If you question if something is spoiled or rotten, do not take any chances.
“Consumers need to take that extra minute to actually look at their food and smell their food and make an assessment,” Leib said. “When we just rely on these dates and throw everything away after the date, we’re leading to really high rates of food waste.”
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