Expert: Carol Schlitt - 3/6/2007

Question
Hi Carol,

A quick question about what happens to food in the supermarket that has gone past its expiration date. When a food item reaches the expiration date on the package, do stockers remove the item and return it to the original company from which they got it? or is there a grace period whereby they mark down an item for quicker sale? Also if an item is kept and marked down for a quick sale how long after the expiration date would be the ultimate ultimate throw out date? 1 day? 1 week?  Thank you.

Answer
Hi Frank,

Expiring food in the supermarket can have different "after-life's" depending upon the food item. As a general policy, grocery stores will either pitch or return it to a "central spoils" location -- a company that takes out of date, dented or other "spoiled" food items for reimbursement from the manufacturer. Most grocery stores cull their stock to make sure foods are not out of date and if they see food is getting close to expiration will put it on special sale or markdown. Stores do not, as a general rule, sell items past their expiration date.

Some foods, like baby food and formula, legally can not be sold past their expiration date.  Most retailers will pull baby food 60 to 90 days before the expiration and send it back to the "central spoils" for reimbursement.

There are many different types of dates on packages. Some are expiration or "sell by" dates which indicate that the product is not to be sold after that date. Some are "best if used by" dates which indicate that the quality of the product will be good until that date but may not be as good of quality after that date.

It depends upon the product on how much time after the expiration date is the product still consumable.  Milk is usually of good quality for consumption up to 7 days after the sell by date. Meats should be used within 1-2 days of the sell by date (cooked or frozen for future use).

For more information on grocery store dating, please check out this website:  http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Food_Product_Dating/index.asp

I hope this answers your question.  If you have additional questions, please let me know.

Carol