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GailL1
July 2, 2026

Do You Throw Out Food If It Has Passed the stamped date of “sell by” or “use by” ?

  • July 2, 2026
  • 12 replies
  • 567 views

Would you throw out food if it is pass the “sell by” date?

 

AP U.S. News 07/01/2026 - Did the milk expire? California bans ‘sell by’ food labels to cut food waste 

 

I never even reference the sell by date or actually the use by date either, I got by my own senses and they have never failed me.

 

What do you do?  

      12 replies

      SummerOnTheWay1
      SummerOnTheWay1
      July 2, 2026

      Gail @GailL1 , I "check" dates to avoid becoming ill. And yes, will throw out food that has expired.

      GailL1Author
      July 3, 2026

      @SummerOnTheWay1 

      That is what they are talking about in the link - sell by dates / use by dates - 

      most of the time if it is not fresh - those dates are just a guess.  You may be throwing out money.

       

      That is why CA is changing their law - to stop food waste.  

       

       

      GailL1Author
      July 3, 2026

      @SummerOnTheWay1 

      What would you do IF those dates were no longer required to be on the product ?  I am sure some will remain on some products  - like dairy - eggs / milk - 

      I use the float test to check the freshness of eggs - 

      WW393731
      Conversationalist ⭐⭐
      July 2, 2026

      usually no, give it the smell test

      GailL1Author
      July 3, 2026

      @WW393731 

      If you can’t trust your own senses - exactly who can you trust.  🤣

       

       

      leonp574353
      Contributor ⭐⭐
      July 2, 2026

      Not  a chance! I have eaten cereal and peanut butter a year after the date printed on the container! I have eaten canned goods three years after the printed date also! SO much good food gets thrown away due to these arbitrary dates! On fresh dairy I am much more careful. I drink milk up to about 10 days after the date without taste or health issues at all.

        GailL1Author
        July 3, 2026

        @leonp574353 

        Me too - I will at least try it before it gets thrown away.  I think that goes back to my poor college days - NEVER throw food away that is still recognizable !  🤣

         

        I don’t think that Fat Free Lactaid is real milk but I do love it - seems it never goes bad at least when added to a big ole bowl of Cheerios (heart healthy of course).

         

         

          SereneSeagull
          SereneSeagull
          Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
          July 2, 2026

          If it’s uncooked meat, I never mess around.  As we age, what used to be safe to eat,  may not necessarily be safe, as our immune system is easily compromised.

           

            GailL1Author
            July 3, 2026

            @SereneSeagull 

            I just stick it all in the freezer the day I buy it and then rotate to cook the oldest 1st.

             

              SereneSeagull
              SereneSeagull
              Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
              July 3, 2026

              Yeah, I’d agree with that.  Freezing is the way to go.  
              Love me some frozen blueberries in the summer!  Get them fresh washed and placed on a lined cookie sheet to freeze, and into a freezer bag after.  Pop ‘em into the mouth from the freezer and they’re a great cold treat

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