Use-by dates on Food

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Kooky
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Use-by dates on Food

Post by Kooky » 14th Apr, '08, 10:31

How strictly do you follow these? Does Balsamic Vinegar really go out of date?

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Possum » 14th Apr, '08, 10:47

They are just to cover their arse. A bit like they always stick "this product may contain nuts" on stuff that doesn't...
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Tas » 14th Apr, '08, 11:11

with some stuff, if it has some sort of activity or performance related measure, then a shelf life will indicate an end to that performance. others might mean a bacterial count is likely. or if there is yeasts present in system and stuff like that. might also mean endlife to packaging...
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Tack » 14th Apr, '08, 11:25

For long shelf-life items, that don't need fridging once opened, I ignores dates!

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Burbage » 14th Apr, '08, 11:47

They are very conservative, and quite often don't have any basis in the science that Tas explains, even though they should.

For example, the Edwina Curry egg scaremongering reduced the use by period for eggs from about three weeks to one week. Also, a lot of stuff you buy from a deli counter just has a use by period from the time when you buy it,not from the time it went on display in the deli. Also some companies put short e by periods on their products because the flavour changes over time and they want to make sure they don't get returns because the taste is odd.

If meat smells OK then it is edible. It is often edible when it has a bit of a pong, just cook it well and add a bit of spice. In fact you'll know just by looking at it which fresh food is edible and which is not, no matter what the label says.

For processed food and ready meal and all that crap you should throw it all in the bin whether it's in code or not and start buying fresh food.

Any food with high salt, sugar or alcohol is no pathogenic risk. Though their effect on your health otherwise is another thing.

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Tas » 14th Apr, '08, 12:07

"Also some companies put short e by periods on their products because the flavour changes over time and they want to make sure they don't get returns because the taste is odd. "

This is a legitimate reason to date a product in terms of quality control, it relates back to a measure of performance, in this case flavour.

for the limited experience I've got on this, shelf life is quite important as it effects working capital in your warehouses, so it ain't that arbitrary.
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by BettyBoo » 14th Apr, '08, 13:32

Kooky, throw it out. You can buy Balsamic Vinegar in Ozz. :D
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Burbage » 14th Apr, '08, 13:45

Tas wrote:"Also some companies put short e by periods on their products because the flavour changes over time and they want to make sure they don't get returns because the taste is odd. "

This is a legitimate reason to date a product in terms of quality control, it relates back to a measure of performance, in this case flavour.

for the limited experience I've got on this, shelf life is quite important as it effects working capital in your warehouses, so it ain't that arbitrary.

I agree, the point I am making it that use by codes are not always about food safety.

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Kooky » 14th Apr, '08, 17:05

BettyBoo wrote:Kooky, throw it out. You can buy Balsamic Vinegar in Ozz. :D
You think I'm planning to take it with me? [smilie=rotflmao.gif]

Nooooo, it's just that I have quite a collection of spices, vinegars, cooking wines, etc., that it seems a shame to chuck. (No seriously, I do. :P ) Somebody has offered to take them off my hands but I don't want to poison them.

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Lichtgestalt » 14th Apr, '08, 18:03

Kooky wrote:
BettyBoo wrote:Kooky, throw it out. You can buy Balsamic Vinegar in Ozz. :D
You think I'm planning to take it with me? [smilie=rotflmao.gif]

Nooooo, it's just that I have quite a collection of spices, vinegars, cooking wines, etc., that it seems a shame to chuck. (No seriously, I do. :P ) Somebody has offered to take them off my hands but I don't want to poison them.
I guess they are all unopened?

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Bender » 14th Apr, '08, 20:38

Kooky wrote: You think I'm planning to take it with me?
Having been in Oz before, you probably know all this. But just in case...

Australian Customs are very strict on imports, especially plant and animal matter. It's most likely your luggage will be x-rayed on the way in, and searched if anything catches the attention of Customs or if selected for random search. Declare all food (including sweets), anything organic, prescription drugs, etc. as Customs will not hesitate to penalise (fine) you for not declaring. It's worth checking out:
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Kooky » 14th Apr, '08, 21:01

Thanks Bender. Having had my nuts confiscated a couple of years ago, I will be very careful indeed. (I did declare them.)

No food shall be transported.

HOOVER :P bag shall be emptied.

Shoes shall be disinfected.

Rattan furniture shall be mislabelled.

etc.

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Bender » 14th Apr, '08, 21:04

Nuts confiscated... not something I'd like to think about. :shock:
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by chocolate » 14th Apr, '08, 21:04

unless there is mould....i eat it

or in the case of my home in ireland has been there 10 years, and even then ....
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by BFG » 14th Apr, '08, 21:14

chocolate wrote:unless there is mould....i eat it

Sounds like the perfect woman...
Life's too short...

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by chocolate » 14th Apr, '08, 21:15

LMAO

(but yes i am perfect)
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by BFG » 14th Apr, '08, 21:17

I never thought otherwise... [smilie=kiss.gif]

How's Pensil...Pennsil...Pensyll....America?
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by chocolate » 14th Apr, '08, 21:20

Philadelphia...Pennsylvania...is good!
it's still intact, i haven't destroyed it quite yet and its still keeping me most entertained....

I went to Boston 2 weekends ago, also managed to leave that intact....it was wet and miserable and i was only there to dance so no sightseeing :)

plus its getting warmer again so i'm most happy!
Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels.

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by BFG » 14th Apr, '08, 21:23

I'm glad you're having fun. Keep up the dancing and the (deliberate) innuendoes...

[smilie=kissing2.gif]
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by chocolate » 14th Apr, '08, 21:29

will do, to both!

(quality hijack of post BFG i'm impressed)

i think i need more chocolate.... it is my birthday :)
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Kooky » 14th Apr, '08, 21:35

I just ate a load in your honour. It was in date, too.

It's a good job I didn't tell the person I brought it back from Oz for that I'd got it for them.

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by chocolate » 14th Apr, '08, 21:58

you're too kind!

chocolate......need to go to WAWA......
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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Batwoman » 17th Apr, '08, 19:27

I am terrible for dates on things - totally ignore them - I trust my nose (if it's off you know) and eyes (as Choccy says you can see mould)

Eeek I have even been known just to cut the moudly bits off and still use it - is that disgusting?

Anyone fancy dinner at mine? [smilie=rotflmao.gif]

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by Kooky » 17th Apr, '08, 19:55

That's good - I was thinking of giving the balsamic to you. :D

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Re: Use-by dates on Food

Post by chocolate » 17th Apr, '08, 21:03

Batwoman wrote:I am terrible for dates on things - totally ignore them - I trust my nose (if it's off you know) and eyes (as Choccy says you can see mould)

Eeek I have even been known just to cut the moudly bits off and still use it - is that disgusting?

Anyone fancy dinner at mine? [smilie=rotflmao.gif]
my mother cuts mould of things, now i do..we're all still alive :)

though she did nearly try to take potatoes she had binned coz the "eyes" were so long /they were old out of the bin and feed them to my sister who had returned from NZ the other day, that's definitely a new low for her :)
Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels.

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