Outdated foods. Are they good?
“With the current economic troubles, expired foods are increasingly becoming a part of America’s diet,” explains The Atlantic. Re-sellers — called “salvage stores” — have seen sales increase over the last few years. At food banks, there has been a 40 percent increase in demand for these items, according to Feeding America.
So what about the safety of these food? Are they fit for consumption? Overdue foods have a stamp of approval from the FDA. According to The Atlantic, “The government agency decided that expiration dates are simply an indication of optimum quality as deemed by the manufacturer.” That’s good news for those of us who have stockpiles of canned tuna, soups, tomatoes, salad dressings, and other shelf-stable items. According to Dr. Ted Labuza, professor of food science at the University of Minnesota, many of those foods can be consumed years after their stamped date.
tomvancel
