Instant Alert: The vast majority of expiration dates are bogus — here's how long your food is still good

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   The vast majority of expiration dates are bogus — here's how long your food is still good by Mallory Schlossberg on Nov 24, 2015, 12:32 PM Advertisement We waste a lot of food out of fear. Experts estimate that $165 billion worth gets tossed each year. And you can only imagine how much gets thrown into the trash after a massive meal like Thanksgiving; our eyes are often bigger than our stomachs! But most expiration dates are largely made up. According to The National Resource Defense Council, the "sell by" dates do indicate not whether foods are safe to eat — they simply tell you when food will reach its limits for "optimal quality." The handy website StillTasty compiles data from sources including the USDA, the FDA, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as food manufacturers themselves. The site provides helpful tips on when to dispose of hundreds of household goods — so you can know how long you can safely keep your leftovers, and any other food you might have around. SEE ALSO: We definitively solved the debate over whether you can still eat cheese with mold on it Tips about the "sell by, best by, and used by" terms. The USDA advises you to purchase the product before the "sell-by date," and the "best if used by (or before)" date indicates when the product will have optimal taste and quality. "Use by" dates simply indicate the last day the food will be at its top quality.  The USDA notes that it's OK to eat these foods past the dates on the packaging; however, this does not mean we are invincible from getting sick. "If foods are mishandled," the USDA writes on its website, "foodborne bacteria can grow, and if pathogens are present, cause foodborne illness — before or after the date on the package." The only exception is infant formula, as the USDA advises parents to not buy or even use baby formula once the "use by" date rolls around. What about mold? A rule of thumb to go by is to pay attention to when you purchased or opened the food, rather than what the packaging says. (There are some specific rules for moldy cheese.) Cooked turkey What's Thanksgiving without turkey? And how long can use the leftovers for sandwiches? According to StillTasty, you can get three to four days of life out of your turkey if you refrigerate it. If you freeze it, you can eat turkey for another two to three months. See the rest of the story at Business Insider   Share the latest business news with your network: Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011