Memes

I was germophobic my entire life up until like a year or two ago where I kinda got over it and stopped giving a shit, but I'm still incredibly paranoid about food expiration, even when the best before day hasn't been reached as is 1-2 days away.

There are different types of dates in the US. Few things have expiration dates, which means it can be dangerous (or, for medication, ineffective) after that date. Most things have "best before" dates, which means the company has tested the product that far from its production and found it still met the quality standard.

The problem is that the FDA requires that testing and that every product have such a date. People have mentioned salt, which is inert, having a date, and that's probably the most ridiculous example, but there are lots of things that have super long shelf lives beyond the best buy dates. Honey, soy sauce, bottled water, and vinegar being examples that come to mind.

What if I'm both? I know expiration dates aren't literally when the thing instantly stops being edible, but if the date is from months ago, I know it's probably not worth it, except for maybe canned/frozen food.

Best By dates are not expiration dates, expiration dates are estimates.

That said, my wife has no concept of expiration until something is obviously covered in mold, and says some wild stuff. "Oh that's got lemon juice in it, it doesn't expire" like babe, lemon juice isn't some timeless magic spell.

These do not sound like mutually exclusive perspectives. Why not both?

Expiration dates are literally made up, very infrequently will any actual testing be done to see the exact time it takes for a food to decay enough to be either unenjoyable, unpalatable or inedible.

They're usually 1 week from mfgr for unpreserved foods, 2 weeks to a month for soft foods like American sandwich bread, 3 months to a year for dry goods (depending on what it is) and up to several years for canned goods.

My salt has an expiration date. Salt is a rock, it is millions of years old (not sea salt, mined salt). It does not expire.

In Japan they have two types of dates, which map to "Use by" and "Best before", but they don't use them interchangeably or some vague middle-of-the-road term like "expiry date". One is operative, the other is a recommendation.

消費期限 (shouhi-kigen) literally means "consumption time limit" and 賞味期限 (shoumi-kigen) literally means "guarantee of taste time limit".

They are estimations. I do give them weight in the to eat or not to eat decision, but I also use my own senses.

Let me put it this way: They print expiration dates on SALT.
Now, it's pretty convenient that stores here in Denmark sell products cheaper just before they "expire" because certain products actually get better with time like cheese.
Safe to say I'm the second type hehe..

I recognize that "best by" dates are mostly bullshit, but I'm also a firm believer in "why risk it?" Especially for food where you can't tell if it's gone bad, like canned goods. I don't fuck around with botulism.

i'm the person that understands the conflict of interest between companies and the creation of their own expiration dates.

There is no "expired", only "improperly fermented". Sure, it could be very bad, but then you should've paid attention to it in advance, respect the nutrient and all living things who brought it about.

Expiration date believers are my sworn enemies.

When I was 14, I hated cheerios and had a whole pack bit noone in my family liked em.

Noticed it expired the same date as me and my brothers birthday and we excitedly waited and threw it out on our birthday.

Still regret it to this day.

I recognize that "best before" means exactly what it says