30 Foods You Should Never Eat Past the Expiration Date

You just discovered a container of yogurt that was shoved to the back of your fridge for who knows how long. It’s past the date stamped on the packaging, but it seems wasteful to throw it out—especially with food prices so high. Is it still safe to eat?

Interestingly, the dates on the package don’t tell the whole story. “People often refer to these dates as ‘expiration dates,’ but they’re actually determined by the manufacturer and are about quality, not safety,” says Don Schaffner, Ph.D., food microbiologist and distinguished professor at Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences. “The color, smell, and flavor of foods do change over time, so these dates are set by the manufacturer to say ‘this food will be best if eaten by this date.’”

“Use by” or “best if used by/before” indicate the last day the food should be eaten for best quality. “Sell by” dates tell how long a food can stay on the store shelves. Except for infant formula, product dating is not required by federal regulations.

So, how do you know when it’s time to toss foods? “Refrigeration doesn’t kill anything. It just arrests the growth,” says Dr. Schaffner. Technically, that means your food’s lifespan may be shorter than you think. Many factors affect how long food lasts, such as how it was handled before you bought it, storage at the supermarket, and if it’s been kept cold in your fridge. Because most of these issues are out of your control, proper home storage can help your food last as long as possible. “The number one tip I share with consumers is to get a thermometer to make sure your fridge stays at 40 degrees F or colder,” says Dr. Schaffner. (Here's how to check if your fridge is at the right temperature).

Here are foods you shouldn't eat after their expiration date and how long to expect foods to stay safe: