Archive image of some milk bottles


A healthy eating It is not limited only to the balance of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and mineral salts. The journey of the food, from its production to its cooking, significantly influences its quality and safety.

Knowing how to read labels is essential, not only to eat correctly, but also to avoid waste and optimize what you have at home. One of the most frequently asked questions arises precisely from labels: Can expired foods be eaten? Which ones do, which ones don’t? And how to orient yourself between the sentences “consume before” y “consume preferably before”?

The Italian nutritionist Laura De Garapresident of the Master’s Course in Food Sciences and Human Nutrition at the Campus Bio-Médico University of Rome, clarifies and distinguishes case by case.

Expiration or preferential consumption?

The difference is important. “Perhaps we have not noticed the difference in the expiration indications: ‘Consume preferably before’ y ‘Consume before’. The addition of ‘preferably’ is not an irrelevant detail.

The indication ‘consume preferably before’ refers to the date until which the product maintains its optimal organoleptic propertiesimportant properties to satisfy our senses, such as flavor, consistency or chromatic intensity. After this date, the food could lose some of these characteristics. without, however, becoming dangerous to our health.

Instead, the indication ‘consume before’ represents a mandatory information on the deadline by which the product must be consumed. After this date, especially if it is a fresh product or with a good water content, it can represent a health risk,” explains De Gara.

The big risks: poisoning and bacteria

“The most common risk is represented by food poisoning caused by pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria y They exhibited chill. The risk of toxins being produced in a food is particularly high in perishable products such as meat, fish, dairy products and prepared dishes. Not only is it important not to consume these foods after the expiration date, but it is also essential that they be kept fresh. correct temperature“says the nutritionist.

“Tolerable” foods, even expired

“Some foods can be consumed with security even after said dateas long as they have been correctly preserved and, above all, when they require a process of cooking at high temperatures for its preparation.

For example, dry pasta (but not fresh), rice, dried legumes, canned foods and long-lasting products such as honey and sugar They generally maintain their nutritional and safety properties unchanged even for a longer time,” he concludes.

Archive image of some milk bottlesE.M.

‘The senses help us’

“Our senses, particularly sight and smellcan be of great help to understand if a food is still consumable. A color variation It can be an important clue; If in doubt, we can try a small amount to better evaluate unwanted variations in organoleptic characteristics.

If the food presents signs of mold, unpleasant odors o o altered flavorwe should not consume it. The ability to correctly perceive taste may be altered in the seniorsjust as children have many more taste buds than adults and, consequently, they perceive the flavors of foods in a more accentuated way, but they may be less capable of perceiving the quality of a food through organoleptic alterations,” explains the expert.

How to reduce waste: plan and conserve

“The root of the matter is purchase planning: the homemade list checking what we already have seems like obvious advice, but not so easy to apply in daily life, so much so that only a little more than half of Italians do it regularly, according to data from the Nestlé Observatory.

When making a purchase, an important tip is to spend the necessary time to read the expiration date of what we acquire. If we buy frozen products, remember that they should not be defrosted in the time it takes to reach the freezer in our kitchen.

It is useful to use airtight containers when we open a container. It is also important position in which we preserve food in the refrigerator or pantry. It is useful freeze foods that are not expected to be consumed immediately,” says De Gara.

Milk, not beyond expiration

“Milk is a product highly perishable and may develop harmful bacteria after the expiration date. “In particular, this risk increases in warm seasons: leaving an open container of milk out of the refrigerator even for a few hours can be enough to make it no longer usable.”

Even more important is to follow the correct safety rules when it comes to raw milk or its derivatives. “Raw milk is sold after milking without undergoing any heat treatment, which allows it to maintain all its natural characteristics, including the presence of ‘positive’ bacteria such as lactobacilli, which promote the intestinal microbiota. However, may also contain pathogenic microorganisms producers of toxins, including Shiga toxins (STEC), capable of causing even very serious diseases.

The danger is such, especially in the summer months, that “on July 9, the Ministry of Health considered it appropriate to transmit to all the Regions some Guidelines for the control of They exhibited chill Shiga toxin producers (STEC) in unpasteurized milk and derived products”.

File image of some eggs

File image of some eggsLUIS GANDARILLAS | Efe

Honey lasts a long time

“Even though there is nothing eternal about what has a biological component, like all foods, we can safely say that honey lasts a long time“. Its natural antibacterial properties make it particularly stable over time. “If stored correctly, it manages to preserve its nutritional characteristics for very long periods. without losing quality or safety”, De Gara asserts.

Cheese: not beyond expiration

“Although some aged cheeses can be consumed after expiration, it is It is essential that they do not present altered organoleptic aspects“. Sight and smell become important instruments for evaluation.

“In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to the absence of Unwanted mold and unpleasant odors“If we notice obvious changes in the rind or aroma, it is better to avoid consumption.”

The oil, little time

“The oil does not pose food safety problems if it is consumed shortly after expiration, as long as it has not become rancid“. However, the nutritional aspect must be considered. “Over time, extra virgin olive oil – which is the one that, taken in adequate quantities, can provide benefits to our health – loses the most interesting molecules for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, It would be ideal to consume it within a year of its production.“.

Fruit juices and dry cookies, a few months after expiration

“Also fruit juices, even if they are correctly packaged and preserved, tend to lose their nutritional qualities over time.” The main risk is fermentation or the appearance of moho. “If we find expired but well-sealed fruit juices, we can consider consuming them only after careful evaluation. If the taste, smell or appearance do not present obvious alterations, it is possible to try a small amount. But When in doubt, it is always better not to risk it.“.

“Packaged, unopened dry crackers are among the least problematic foods from a safety standpoint.” Even after expiration they can be consumed for several months. “The greatest loss concerns the organoleptic aspect: they may lose crunchiness, friability and aromatic intensity, but remain safe if well preserved“.

Sausages and cold cuts: not beyond the expiration date

“Sausages and cold cuts are some of the most perishable foods and are sensitive to microbial spoilage“. The risk of developing dangerous bacteria such as Listeria It’s tall. “It is not appropriate to consume them beyond the expiration date, even if they look good: deterioration is not always visible to the naked eye“.

Oil packaging process

Oil packaging processJOSE CUELLARE.M.

Canned fish: one month after expiration

“Canned fish usually has very long shelf lives, between two and five years from packaging.” In these very long expirations, “there may be a certain tolerance, even up to a month later“. As long as the packaging is completely intact and the product is not altered, it is possible to consume it. “However, it is good practice always check the date on the label when purchasing: it may happen that some lots are close to expiration without us realizing it. Better to know in advance.”

Chocolate: several weeks after expiration

“Chocolate can be consumed even months after expirationprovided it shows no signs of deterioration.” The typical white patina that may appear on the surface, known as ‘blooming’ (or flowering), “it is not harmful to health: it is an aesthetic alteration due to the separation of fats or sugars, which does not compromise product safety“.

Eggs, not beyond expiration

“Eggs represent a potentially very dangerous if consumed after the expiration date.” After that date, in fact, “bacteria such as Salmonellaalthough externally the egg may still appear to be in good condition. For this reason, It is absolutely inadvisable to eat them beyond the indicated date.“.



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