According to Business Insider, manufacturers use different dates on groceries, such as sell-by dates (how long stores can display the product), use-by date (when the product will be at its utmost quality) or best if used by date (the best date for flavor and quality). 

The information does not necessarily mean expiration dates and does not show whether the food is safe to be consumed. Be sure to check for expiration dates and take a look at the following list of food that should never be consumed once they have reached the expiration date, as compiled by the Reader’s Digest.

Egg substitutes

Egg replacements shelf life is a lot shorter than real eggs. It is better to buy fresh eggs or use up the substitutes as soon as possible.

“It´s very safe to keep eggs in the refrigerator for three to five weeks if they´re raw and in the shell. For egg substitute products, you have about three to five days on average once they´re open. If they´re unopened you have about 10 days,” says dietitian Jessica Crandall.

Jarred condiments

Jams or ketchups have no extended shelf life just because they are in a glass jar in the refrigerator. “Once you´ve opened the lid, that safety seal is broken and you should be using that condiment in a timely fashion,” Crandall recommended.

By consuming it with a dirty knife or spoon, the risk of bacteria increases. “In addition, as we make sandwiches for example, we dip our knife into the spread container and wipe it onto the sandwich and then dip it back into the container. By doing this you´re putting some of that bacteria back into the container,” she said.

Look out for water floating on top, any discoloration or weird smells in spreads and sauces to avoid the risk of foodborne illness.

Read also: Simple ways to combat food waste

Potato salad

Your potato salad may be made of mayonnaise, mustard and eggs. When left in the refrigerator for too long, bacteria spreads and the food spoils.

As with jarred condiments, taking a few scoops with the same spoon increases the risk of contamination and foodborne illness. “Sometimes when things fall out of temperature or if there are bacteria introduced, we have to be extra cautious with those things,” said Crandall.

Cold-pressed juices

Raw juices have become popular in recent years as they are healthy, tasty and come in all kinds of colors. But since they are not pasteurized, there is the risk of bacterial contamination. Processed and pasteurized juices have an increased shelf life because all harmful bacteria are killed off. It is recommended to drink your raw juices in 48 to 72 hours after purchase.

Fresh meat

With fresh meat, there is always the risk of contamination with Salmonella, E. coli or other bacteria. Crandall recommended sticking to the “sell by” date, as “[it] is telling the store when it should be the last day to have it on their shelf.” To kill off bacteria, cook the meat at proper temperatures or freeze it immediately.

Fish

The same is true of fish. After purchasing fish, you should consume the food within one or two days. Whole Foods supermarket recommends wrapping fish in moisture-proof freezer paper or foil and put it in the freezer to keep it fresh.

Leafy greens

This type of food should never be consumed past the expiration date. Even the packaged ones that are pre-washed still have the potential to carry bacteria like E. coli, as they have been touched by many hands, according to Prevention. Always wash your leafy greens before eating and consuming them before they get soggy. (sop/wng)

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