I'm lucky my husband does not go into the pantry, nor does he cook. I remember a time when there were no expiration dates on beer, or soda. Then our government steps in and says we have to have it on those too. I only throw food if it smells bad. I freeze left over veggies, small bits of leftover meat, potatoes, etc., it all goes into the soup pot on a cold day. I had heard about the cake mix leavening agent in cake mixes so if my cake mix is a bit old I use it and throw in a teaspoon of baking powder just in case. That has always worked well for me.

I, too, tend to ignore "sell by" dates. But I wonder if anyone else has had this experience -- Diet Coke seems to have a limited life span. I once found some in the back of the pantry that had to have been there for six months or a year. I assumed it was OK to drink. It was still carbonated, but it tasted terrible! I have experienced this another time, too. Anyone discovered the same thing? Wonder what makes it go bad.

Most items on the grocery shelf that have a sell by date are intended to be used within 7 days of that date, canned goods within 3 months, but if the can has no rust and no large dents or bulges, they are still good. Our government is just trying to protect the consumer (now there's a label with no expiration date! lol)

The dates are a guideline, in my opinion, and they are pretty accurate. Something in a can or a jar a year after its sell-by may be discolored or the flavor will have gone off or it smells odd...I am more worried about refrigerated leftovers and handling raw meats.

Same here. But I read an article some where on the computer-Think it was Good Housekeeping's E-mag that said that the date on Bottled Water is not for the water but for the plastic bottle itself. Scary that if it is not drank before exp.date it then starts to break down and has been known to taint the water which may cause ''simple' stomach ailments. And these dates could also be for other things sold in plastic bottles. I hate all these plastic food containers. I try not to buy them and when I have to I will transfer them into glass containers.

I read that baking goods must be used by the proper date, A pancake mix was used after the expiration date and people got very sick, so be careful with that.

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*** The one I do not understand is the exp. date on toothpaste and bottled water.
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We never throw out food. If it goes bad or is well beyond the expiration date, we just chop it up and add to the compost bin for next year's planting.

Interesting info but I think their "90% " of Americans throwing away "expired" food is ridiculous. I know very few people that actually do that.

I've had a couple cases of sodas for about 3 years now. Mother used to live with me and she loved A&W Rootbeer. She now lives with my sister but didn't take the sodas with her. I was moving them to a new location in the basement when I notice a can or two had leaked and the cases were stuck together. YUCK!!!! I've gotten rid of the couple cans I found that had leaked and now have them in the fridges being used. They still taste the same.

One of my friends was moving to live with her daughter so I cleaned out her pantry and took the can goods home. I knew I'd never be able to use it all so shared with my friends at my congregation. One asked me if I knew the most of the can goods were expired. YIKES!!!!! But mostof us figure it its not bulging or leaking its still okay. Some folks get ansy about expiration dates.