When many people go to the market to buy goods, they definitely check the expiry date of any food product before buying it. If the expiry date of that thing is near or has passed, then usually it is not bought. But sometimes some things are kept in the house for so many days that their expiry date passes. In such a situation, many people get confused about whether to use those things after the expiry date or not. Know what experts say about this.
When the expiry date of a product passes, people generally have a belief that even after expiry, the product does not become harmful to health immediately. It is believed that in many things, expiry date is fixed more for quality than safety. For example, it is possible that chips or biscuits may not remain crispy after the expiry date, but it does not mean that you will get sick by eating them. However, if the product is milk or meat, it can get spoiled quickly. Bacteria start growing in these things quickly and their expiry date is kept accordingly.
Spices do not spoil for years
Mumbai-based consultant clinical dietitian Pooja Shah Bhave says that people in India often use packets of wheat flour, gram flour, refined flour and semolina without paying attention to the expiry date. Pooja Shah Bhave further said that if non-perishable food items like pulses, pasta and rice are kept in dry, airy rooms, they can remain in good condition even after the expiry date. Even the shelf life of things like nuts, oilseeds and semolina increases by keeping them in the refrigerator. On the other hand, if we talk about spices, they do not spoil for years.
However, Pooja Shah advises that if the expiry date of any item has passed, then its smell and taste should be thoroughly checked first. One should also see in what condition the item is visible.
There are many factors to consider when entering an expiry date
Deepali Sharma, Clinical Nutritionist at CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, says that the expiry date of food packaging is determined by many factors, including the type of food, the packaging used, the manufacturing process and regulatory guidelines. Manufacturers test and experiment according to different storage conditions to know the shelf life of anything. The expiry date is determined on the basis of these tests. This ensures that the product will remain completely safe and of good quality for use till the expiry date.
Shweta Jaiswal, a senior dietician at Sharda Hospital in Noida, believes that the expiry date of a product is more for its quality than its safety. Shweta says that if something looks fine even after its expiry date, then it is completely safe to eat. If something is not spoiling, then it can be eaten.
The most important thing is how you store your food. Your storage determines how long it will remain safe and tasty. Keeping the refrigerator at the right temperature (below 5°C), tightly sealing packages of items and storing dry goods in cool, dark places can greatly increase shelf life. Expert Deepali Sharma says that if these things are not stored at the right temperature and in the right manner, then there is a risk of them spoiling quickly.
However, even after knowing the experts’ opinion, it depends on you whether you want to use any thing after its expiry date or not.
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