What Do You Mean It's Expired?!

By: Theresa Carmichael

Don’t be fooled! Even though that bag of shredded cheese has an expiration date or a “best if used by” date for next month, it may have already gone bad!  The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics emphasizes that the expiration date on a package is the date in which food is still good while it’s in its UNOPENED packaging!  Once the food has been taken out of the bag, that expiration date is no longer accurate! Although the dates are extremely important when storing food, the BEST way to tell if your food is still good is by analyzing it.  Does it smell like anything other than its original scent? Does it have a slime or stickiness to it?  Has the color changed due to deterioration? Does the first bite taste bitter?  Questions such as these are ones you should be asking yourself when determining whether or not a food is okay to eat.  Don’t rely solely on the printed “expires on” date, or you may find yourself in big trouble the next day!