Bodybuilding dates to remember

Flex, Sept, 2003 by Erin Newman

Q: Should I throw away all the food in my fridge that's past the date marked on the package?

A: Yes and no, depending on the type of date marked. Keep in mind that the dating of food products is not required by federal law (except for baby formula) and falls into two categories: safety characteristics (such as food-borne bacteria) and quality characteristics (such as taste, aroma and appearance). There is no universally accepted system of food dating in the United States, but, generally, four categories of food dating can be found on perishable food packages.

Sell By This date, often used on uncooked beef and poultry products, tells the store how long to display the product. Purchase the item before the date and cook or freeze within the time frames listed in the sidebar.

Best If Used By or Before This date is recommended for best flavor or quality. This is not a safety date.

Use By This date refers to the last date recommended for use while the product is still at peak quality.

Expires By Sometimes you will find an expiration date, such as "EXP Aug. 25," printed on certain items. This type of dating is often used on egg cartons. It represents the last day a store may sell the eggs as "fresh." However, this does not mean you should toss the eggs by that date! As long as you purchase the eggs before the expiration date and properly store them, their nutritional value is retained and you can safely use them for another three to five weeks past the date of purchase.

Remember that these guidelines won't do you any good if you don't properly store your food after you buy it. Take food home immediately and store perishables in refrigeration at or below 40 degrees. Freeze what you can't use within the guidelines. Once a perishable food is frozen, the date stamp doesn't matter, because continuously frozen foods are generally safe indefinitely. However, never defrost at room temperature for more than two hours, and always discard food that has developed an off odor, flavor or appearance.

PRODUCT TYPE           COOK OR FREEZE WITHIN

Chicken, turkey              1-2 days
Beef, pork, lamb             3-5 days
Ground beef, turkey          1-2 days
 or chicken