Understanding food expiration dates can help reduce waste, save money

Have you ever taken a can of vegetables out of your pantry and seen the date on the label has passed? You might have stopped to wonder if the product is still safe to consume or if it should be thrown out. This is something most of us have probably experienced at some point in our lives.

Manufacturers provide dates on packages to help consumers decide when food is at its best quality. Many factors are considered when determining the date listed on the packaging, like the characteristics of the food and the type of packaging.

There are many different phrases you might see listed on labels to describe quality dates. The Food Safety and Inspection Service created this list of commonly used phrases:

—A "Best If Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

—A "Sell By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.

—A "Use By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date, except when used on infant formula as described below.

—A "Freeze By" date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

The USDA estimates roughly 30% of our food supply is wasted at the retail and consumer levels. One of the main sources of food waste comes from consumers and retailers throwing away food that might be safe for consumption but are confused about the meaning of the dates displayed on the label.

Are foods safe to eat after the date passes?

If the date listed on the label passes during home storage, a product should still be safe if handled properly until spoilage is visible. Spoiled foods might have an off odor, flavor or texture. If food appears to be spoiled, it should not be eaten.

For more information on food safety and recalls, visit www.fsis.usda.gov.

If you have unopened pantry items you don’t plan on using and are outdated, these items can still be donated. Consider donating items you might not use to your local food pantry.

If you are interested in donating items to local food pantries or are in need of food, you can find a list of food pantries located in Wayne County at www.awcinc.org/community-food-project/.

Try this low-cost black bean soup recipe from celebrateyourplate.org:

2 cans (15-ounce) of no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed

2 teaspoons olive oil or vegetable oil

1/2 medium onion, chopped

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)

1 can (14.5-ounce) of no-salt-added diced tomatoes with green chilies

1 cup water

1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice (optional)

1 tablespoon lime juice (about 1/2 lime)

Before you begin, wash your hands, surfaces, utensils and vegetables. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently until the onion begins to soften, about 2-3 minutes. Add chili powder. Add cumin, if using. Cook and stir for 1 minute.

Add beans, tomatoes and water to the saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon or lime juice, if using. Garnish with yogurt or sour cream and cilantro before serving, if using.

Kaitlynn Tonn is a family and consumer sciences educator at OSU Extension Wayne County. She can be reached at 330-264-8722 or tonn.13@osu.edu.