Following Hurricane Irene, many people cleaning debris from their yards, haggling with with insurance agents and mopping up soggy floors. One critical part of cleanup is making sure the post-Irene food people eat from their pantries is safe for consumption. Power outages are causing people to dig deep into cupboards too see what?s left.
Taking stock of your pantry means more than just figuring out what you need to put on your grocery list. Take time to take to look at the dates of the products. ? ?Sell-by?, ?best if used by? and ?use-buy dates? can make your head spin. But there are a few guidelines to remember that will help you make sure the food you are serving your family is up to date,?says Angela Paymard, Chairwoman of the Orlando based, N2N Global.
Paymard knows food safety. Her Florida based company provides operations compliance, and food safety solutions for food companies, which helps ensure the world?s food supply operates in an efficient and effective manner, resulting in a higher quality food in the supply chain. Paymard works with restaurants, retailers, distributers, packers and processors around the world.
WHATS IN A DATE
Sell-By
This date tells the store how long to put the product on the shelf for sale. This is a product you want to buy before the date expires.
Best if Used By
This is not a date required for safety. It simply recommends a timeline for maximizing product quality which translates to better flavor and quality. It?s safe to use the product even if the date expires during home storage.
Use By
This is the last date recommended for the best flavor and quality as determined by the manufacturer of the food.
The federal government does not have a universal system for dating food. However, infant formula and some baby foods are federally mandated to have use-by dates on their labels. The USDA says you should not use baby formula or baby food after the use-by date.
Product dates aren?t always the best to go by. ?It?s best to always purchase a product before it expires. If you freeze a perishable product the expiration date doesn?t matter because foods kept frozen continuously are safe indefinitely according the USDA,? Paymard explains.
?If product is refrigerated to below 40 degrees the product can last beyond the ?use by? date.?
Canned Food
High acid canned foods like tomatoes will have the best shelf quality for 12 to 18 months. Low acid foods like canned meat, poultry fish and vegetables will retain the best quality on the shelf for 2 to 5 years. Be sure to store cans in a dry, clean , cool place.
Eggs
Always buy your eggs before the sell-by sate on the carton and use them within the 3 to 5 weeks of the date you purchased them. Even though the sell-by date may expire while they sit in your refrigerator during that time, it?s still safe to eat them.
?Use common sense. If a product has an out of the ordinary odor, flavor or appearance, don?t use it. If may have been compromised by bacteria. Pay special attention to opaque water as that is a clear indication of bacterial saturation,? Paymard advises.
ABOUT N2N
N2N Global?s product suite brings powerful solutions for all members of the food supply chain. For Supply Side companies, N2N Global offers agri-ERP solutions, farm management, food safety, business analytics and traceability software. For direct to consumer and buy side companies, N2N Global offers food safety, compliance, and asset tracking tools to help ensure the food supply is properly managed for minimized risk. N2N Global provides comprehensive solutions for companies looking for ways to improve efficiencies, enhance profitability, and ensure food safety. To contact Angela Paymard directly, visit her on N2N Global?s twitter page. Please visit for more information.
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