Something for the earth... (step 3)

We're halfway there! Here's the next step from an article in earth911.com's newsletter that I got from recyclebank! Again, it's great information that I believe should be passed along because knowing something is 20% of the battle. Next is to be conscious and present to our actions. Which is perfect for this next step about understanding expiration dates. As a couponer, I've stocked up on a lot of things and what I didn't do in the very beginning was pay attention to the expiration dates on my products. Now I'm talking about the everyday products: mouthwash, toothpaste, OTC Drugs and cereal. When I decided to look online, I found out that a lot of the expiration dates really didn't matter. You can use OTC drugs years after they expire, cereal will be fine until you open it and toothpaste can last. That is huge in terms of throwing away unused products because they "expired" and spending money to buy new ones. It's even more wasteful when we're talking about food because it can be confusing. Thanks to earth911.com for taking the time to clarify it for us.

Understand sell-by dates

A staggering amount of food is wasted due to customer confusion about “sell-by” labels, the U.K. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) found last year. DEFRA published detailed guidelines for food and drink makers to relieve confusion in the U.K., but the “sell-by” date mystery affects shoppers worldwide.

Almost always, “sell-by” dates tell retailers when they should stop displaying goods on shelves. Wary of foodborne illnesses, many shoppers are quick to throw items away after this date. But if stored properly, goods are often safe for several more days.

“Even if the [sell-by] date expires during home storage, a product should be safe, wholesome and of good quality if handled properly and kept at 40 degrees or below,” said the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Consult their handy home storage chart to make the most of your perishables and get answers to all your food-safety questions.

When it comes to “expiration” and “use-by” dates, use your senses before throwing something away. If food looks, smells and tastes normal, it should be safe to use even if the expiration date has passed. But once it starts developing these characteristics, it’s time to throw it out, the FSIS said.


If you missed the first 2 steps or don't want to wait for the next 2 steps, you can read the rest of the article here.