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    6 foods you should never eat past the expiration date, doctors warn

    Synopsis

    Doctors warn that some foods become unsafe after the expiry date. Items like raw meat, fish, deli meats, salads, cheese, and mushrooms can cause sickness if eaten late. Knowing which foods to toss helps keep you healthy and safe from food poisoning. Always check expiry dates before eating.

    Food safety is important, however stocking and re-stocking food can feel endless. Tossing spoiled food is necessary to keep yourself and others safe.

    Supermarket foods have either a “sell-by” or an “expiration/use-by” date. Sell-by: For stores to rotate stock; food may still be okay for a while at home. Expiration/use-by: Shows the last safe day to eat the food. Eating past this date can be dangerous, as per the report by Real Simple.

    Expert Dr. Cynthia Odogwu, MD, a family medicine doctor in Maryland, says some foods are safe a few days after expiration (like frozen meals, pasta, spices, honey), but others are risky and must be thrown out.


    Raw Meat

    “Raw meats such as chicken, beef, and pork should not be consumed after their expiry date,” says Dr. Odogwu. Raw meat can grow harmful bacteria like salmonella and E.coli, causing food poisoning.

    Raw Fish and Seafood

    Raw fish past its expiration date is unsafe. Fish should be eaten the same day or within 48 hours of purchase. Signs that its is spoiled are slimy texture, bad chemical-like smell.

    Deli Meat and Cold Cuts

    “Once ready-to-eat deli meats and cold cuts expire, it is necessary to throw them out,” says Dr. Odogwu. Expired deli meats can grow Listeria, even in the fridge. Check for grey or green color and slimy texture as signs of expiration.

    Packaged Salads

    “Throw out pre-packaged, ready-to-eat salads once they expire,” says Dr. Odogwu. Germs grow as salads near expiry, causing spoilage and sickness. If transferring salad to a new container, mark the expiry date on it.

    Unpasteurized Cheeses

    Dr. Odogwu says that brie and other unpasteurized cheese is more prone to bacterial contamination like from Listeria and should be discarded once expired. Included in the category is feta, queso fresco, and cheese wheels.

    Mushrooms

    Expired or spoiled mushrooms are also unsafe. In order to spot the bad ones in the bunch, look for the thin and pale ones, which might carry bacterial toxins such as botulism, a possible reason of food poisoning. Paper bag storage can help preserve them longer.

    FAQs

    Q1. What foods should you never eat after the expiry date?

    You should never eat expired raw meat, fish, deli meats, packaged salads, unpasteurized cheese, or mushrooms as they can cause food poisoning.

    Q2. Why is it dangerous to eat food past the expiry date?

    Add ET Logo as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
    Expired food can grow harmful bacteria like salmonella or Listeria, which can make you very sick.


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