Never eat these 13 foods past expiry — doctors say they could harm you

Expiration dates on food packages can be misleading. Terms like "sell by," "best by," and "use by" often indicate uncertainty about when food is still edible to consume. While some items may remain safe to eat after their labeled dates, specific foods pose significant health challenges if consumed after expiration date.

Janilyn Hutchings, CP-FS, a food scientist with StateFoodSafety, cites, “As long as you store your groceries properly, you can still eat or use foods after their expiration dates.” She mentions, “Better indicators for whether food has gone bad are ‘off’ smells, textures, and flavors.”

"Generally speaking, expiration dates in the U.S. don’t mean a lot," cites Laurie Beyranevand, director of the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School. "What’s even more confusing is that they’re written in a few different ways on a product label."

Foods to Avoid After Expiration Date

1. Meat

Ground beef, steak, and chicken can be rarely safe to eat after the use-by date, but be extra cautious and look for spoilage indicators, such as unusual odors, discoloration, or mold. You can also use the fingerprint test for chicken: "If you press down on the chicken and it bounces back, it's still good," cites Hutchings. "If the imprint of your finger stays, it's likely not good and should be thrown away."

2. Infant Formula

By law, infant formula needs expiration dates. After this date, nutrient levels may reduce, which is an issue because the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) needed that the nutrients in the formula meet the amounts that are listed on the label.

3. Eggs

Perform the floating egg test to be sure of the safety. Just fill a bowl with water and drop the egg in: if it sinks, it’s fresh; if not, it’s older but likely okay; if it floats, it’s too old.

A spoiled egg will also smell when cracked, per FSIS.

4. Soft Cheese

Hard cheeses can sometimes be saved by cutting away mold, but soft cheeses think: cream cheese, ricotta, etc. and crumbled varieties are different. Mold can spread and contaminate the cheese, beyond what is visible. Harmful bacteria like Listeria, Brucella, Salmonella, and E. coli can grow with the mold, the Mayo Clinic cites, so once soft cheese is moldy or expired, it should be discarded..

5. Deli Meat

Moisture plus low salt build up the spoilage faster in deli meats, while dry foods items such as rice and pasta enjoy longer shelf lives, says Lange. "We wouldn’t recommend eating high-moisture, low-salt items past their expiration dates because of bacteria growth that can lead to food poisoning," he cites.

6. Ground Spices

While not a food-safety hazard, expired spices mean your meals aren’t as flavorful as they should be, Clark says. "Some spices that lose flavor after expiration include ground cinnamon, paprika, and ground cumin," she mentions.

7. Leftovers and Restaurant Takeout

There’s no printed expiration date on your restaurant's to-go container, but timing still matters. Leftovers often sit at room temperature while you travel home, giving bacteria a start to grow and multiply, mentions dietitian Hannah Byrne, MS, RDN.

"While refrigeration can slow down the bacterial growth, it doesn't stop it completely," she cites. "Plus, some restaurant leftovers have a variety of different food groups in them, and they all have different expiration dates on them, so for safety, it’s best to consume them within three to four days."

8. Fresh Berries

One of summer's biggest disappointments is opening your fridge and finding your strawberries in a furry white mold. If you see a moldy berry, remove it and any fruit it touches. Mold spreads immediately on soft fruits, so it's crucial to check the rest and discard if there are any indicators of spoilage.

9. Leafy Vegetables

Once past date, leafy greens like spinach and kale become bitter, Byrne says, and consuming expired greens puts you at risk of foodborne issues. If they’re edging toward expiration, use them in a green smoothie recipe.

10. Cooking Oils

Cooking oils that are not opened generally last about a year; once opened, they last approximately six months, says Tracee Yablon-Brenner, R.D. She advises storing cooking oils in dark glass away from light and heat. If it tastes bitter, it’s rancid and should be discarded.

11. Seafood

Once home, refrigerate seafood for one to two days before cooking or freezing it, as advised by the FDA. Spoiled seafood, smells sour, strongly fishy, or like ammonia, which becomes stronger after cooking. When in doubt, don't use it.

12. Nuts

High in unsaturated fats, nuts tend to go rancid quicker, says dietitian Kelsey Kunik, RDN, and nutrition advisor for Zenmaster Wellness. Most last around four to six months at room temperature when kept in an airtight container and away from light.

13. Fiddleheads

You’re probably not cooking with fiddleheads everytime, but keep this in mind if you do: these tightly coiled, asparagus-like ferns can produce toxins that make you sick if eaten past their expiration dates, Lange cites.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does make a substitute for professional medical or food safety advice. Always consult a professional health or food safety expert if you are unsure about the safety of any food item.

FAQs:

Q1. What is the purpose of expiration dates?
They mainly reflect when a product’s quality might decline, not necessarily safety.

Q2. Are expiration dates required for all foods?
No; federal law only mandates them for items like infant formula.