{"id":73,"date":"2026-11-06T09:06:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T09:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthcare.hibisports.com\/?p=73"},"modified":"2026-11-06T09:06:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T09:06:27","slug":"do-you-really-have-to-throw-out-that-expired-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthcare.hibisports.com\/?p=73","title":{"rendered":"Do You Really Have to Throw Out That Expired Food?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Most food date labels indicate quality, not safety, so passing the printed date does not automatically mean a food belongs in the trash.\n<\/p>\n

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The foods in your fridge and pantry sometimes last longer than you think. Whether it\u2019s a carton of milk or fresh fruit, you can use your senses and spoilage estimate tools<\/a> to help determine if it\u2019s still safe for consumption.\n<\/p>\n

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Do You Really Have to Throw Out That Expired Food?<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n
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Spoiled food often looks, smells, and feels spoiled: Think about those cucumbers in the back of your produce drawer that got soft and slimy, or the fish that started smelling \u201cfishier.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

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We spoke with food safety experts to make it easier for you to decide how long your foods can stay beyond expiration dates.\n<\/p>\n

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Infant formula is an exception<\/h3>\n
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You should always follow the expiration date for infant formula. It is the only food product with an expiration date regulated by the FDA. All infant formula should be thrown away after that date.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Dairy <\/span> <\/h2>\n

Unopened milk<\/strong> lasts about a week in the fridge after its expiration date. Some unopened plant-based milks<\/strong>, like soy and almond, can last for 10 days beyond the expiration date when stored in the fridge.\n<\/p>\n

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Once it\u2019s opened, dairy milk<\/a> lasts about five to seven days afterward, while plant-based milk lasts seven to 10 days in the fridge, according to Isabel Maples, MEd, RDN<\/a>, a national spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.\n<\/p>\n

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Keep milk in the coldest part of your fridge, usually in the back of the bottom shelf, to help it last longer. If the milk smells sour, or if the carton looks bloated, it\u2019s time to throw it away, Maples said.\n<\/p>\n

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