Keeping 'out of date' food products

[CookieMonster]

"sell by" implies there is some shelf life after the sale . . .
"best by / use by" is the manufacturer's determination of when the product quality declines due to age;
those dates are determined at the sole discretion of the manufacturer -
except for shell eggs(*) -
and in many states, local/state laws for dairy products - which are especially prone to spoilage . . .

"expires" is rarely seen in USA except for baby formula - where it is a legal requirement.

if you need a good laugh, check the boxes of salt in the grocery store.
a box of salt - which has been mined from deposits millions of years old . . .
shows up with a "best by" date ~2 years out . . .

(*) eggs:
#1 - only the packing date is required by law - which is typically in Julian date for i.e. last year digit + day of year 'count'
USDA Grade 'regs&stuff' do not require egg cartons to show in plain text a "sell by" or "use by" date.
#2 - however comma and all that . . . IF "sell by" or "use by" dates are printed in plain format on the carton:
the "sell by" date may not be more than 30 days from the "pack date"
the "use by" date may not be more than 42 days from the "pack date"

sailors, who pack fresh eggs in water glass, to be consumed months and month and months later in their voyage . . .
have other concepts . . . .

 

[TastyReuben]

Here’s what we have posted at a place carrying local eggs:

 

[karadekoolaid]

I personally think “Sell By” and "Best if used by" are greed based scare tactics.

I've got a feeling that it's more a question of government regulation. At some stage, in the past 50 years, governments decided that out-of-date food could be bad for consumption (and there are probably quite a few food-poisoning scares or events in that process), and set out guidelines for consumer protection. I'm pretty sure manufacturers got on the bandwagon to avoid being sued.
I tend to use the sniff/taste method. If the product still smells good, and tastes good, then never mind the expiry date.

 

[msmofet]

I've got a feeling that it's more a question of government regulation. At some stage, in the past 50 years, governments decided that out-of-date food could be bad for consumption (and there are probably quite a few food-poisoning scares or events in that process), and set out guidelines for consumer protection. I'm pretty sure manufacturers got on the bandwagon to avoid being sued.
I tend to use the sniff/taste method. If the product still smells good, and tastes good, then never mind the expiry date.

Yes government/manufacture/political greed. Rich get richer tactics.

 

[Barriehie]

I get my eggs on the side of the road with a piece of masking tape with the date packed, pulled from the nest, on the carton. That's it. They're so much better than store bought I eat them twice as fast.

 

[CookieMonster]

I should have mentioned, , , the egg dating info above only applies to cartons displaying the USDA seal & grade.

important? yes/no/maybe.
we have three grocery stores "right down at the corner"
Giant
Weis
Aldi

Weis has zero eggs on the shelf with the USDA seal. Weis is commonly considered a less pricey store....
Giant has zero eggs on the shelf without the USDA Grade A (size) seal.
Aldi - don't shop there much, not much info to share.... during the 'egg crisis' Aldi did not offer USDA Seal eggs....

Weis in a much smaller, locally based company - their produce and fruit is about 385% better than the mega-Giant chain.
as far as I can throw it, Weis seems to buy from vendors with high quality reputations, where as Giant buys based on the lowest $/ton basis.
except for sweet corn BUT ONLY in season - where local farms show up with trucks loaded down with pallets of sweet corn.

I also buy eggs from our local stands - the issue I have with that is they vary rather hugely in size (as measured by weight...)
12 is 12 is a dozen . . . however I maintain a stock of USDA graded "large" for stuff that needs a detail.
but I do like to support my local agrarians . . . so scrambled works just great,,,,

 

[Barriehie]

...
I also buy eggs from our local stands - the issue I have with that is they vary rather hugely in size (as measured by weight...)
12 is 12 is a dozen . . . however I maintain a stock of USDA graded "large" for stuff that needs a detail.
but I do like to support my local agrarians . . . so scrambled works just great,,,,

Good local approach!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Wow, no way could I afford that behavior or waste.

me neither - I was quite shocked to be honest

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I get my eggs on the side of the road with a piece of masking tape with the date packed, pulled from the nest, on the carton. That's it. They're so much better than store bought I eat them twice as fast.

I just write on the egss with a pencil because I can't fill an eg carton each day. We have eaten them more than 2 months later without issues.