sour cream that’s a little expired, kinda ironic considering it already has SOUR in the name; another one is “fresh pickle”, which is it, pickled or fresh? admittedly, “fresh” pickles do have more crunch
Explicitly: 1. They are set early because manufacturers know that consumers will throw things out on the “expiration date” regardless of quality. Therefore the “early” date is a (claimed) “safety margin” that increases sales and a realistic “use by” date would open them up to tort liability. They see this as a “win/win”.
2. However, “fresh/never frozen” meat and fish that approaches its sell-by date is routinely inspected and has a new sticker slapped on it. Journalists who point this out are sued for violation of trade secrets, and the stores who do this are not sanctioned at all. Consumers also seem not to care.
3. In particular, sour cream, yogurt, cheese (well, stinky cheese) can be eaten 8 months after its expiration date (at least sometimes). When I was poor, I did not waste food. Now that I am rich, if it is unappetizing, I throw it away. I no longer cut up apples and eat the good spots. If it’s rotten, it’s rotten. But food is safe for a little while after it ceases to be appetizing.
I throw out stuff if it’s actually rotten. Some foods you can cut things off of (like hard cheeses), but if yogurt or sour cream smells even a little off, it goes in the trash! Bread too. If it’s moldy, it all goes in the trash, the spores could all in it, even if I can’t see them. Not everyone is so lucky, but I’m fortunate enough to be financially secure enough that I don’t have to risk my health to be fed.
5 thoughts on “#947 Something New”
CorvusCorone68
sour cream that’s a little expired, kinda ironic considering it already has SOUR in the name; another one is “fresh pickle”, which is it, pickled or fresh? admittedly, “fresh” pickles do have more crunch
SurlyQueen
Very true….
sighthoundman
Expiration dates are advisory.
sighthoundman
Explicitly: 1. They are set early because manufacturers know that consumers will throw things out on the “expiration date” regardless of quality. Therefore the “early” date is a (claimed) “safety margin” that increases sales and a realistic “use by” date would open them up to tort liability. They see this as a “win/win”.
2. However, “fresh/never frozen” meat and fish that approaches its sell-by date is routinely inspected and has a new sticker slapped on it. Journalists who point this out are sued for violation of trade secrets, and the stores who do this are not sanctioned at all. Consumers also seem not to care.
3. In particular, sour cream, yogurt, cheese (well, stinky cheese) can be eaten 8 months after its expiration date (at least sometimes). When I was poor, I did not waste food. Now that I am rich, if it is unappetizing, I throw it away. I no longer cut up apples and eat the good spots. If it’s rotten, it’s rotten. But food is safe for a little while after it ceases to be appetizing.
SurlyQueen
I throw out stuff if it’s actually rotten. Some foods you can cut things off of (like hard cheeses), but if yogurt or sour cream smells even a little off, it goes in the trash! Bread too. If it’s moldy, it all goes in the trash, the spores could all in it, even if I can’t see them. Not everyone is so lucky, but I’m fortunate enough to be financially secure enough that I don’t have to risk my health to be fed.
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