If there’s box of cereal in your cabinet that has a toy in it, it’s probably from the 1990s and you should probably throw it out today
Yet, while most of us don’t keep cereal around for more than a decade, it's not uncommon to be rummaging around the pantry and come across a box of cereal that's passed its "sell by" or "best by" date. Like many canned goods, certain cereals have long shelf lives but it's not always clear how long is OK. So, is that box still safe to eat?
Salmonella doesn't just affect raw chicken and turkey.
In July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that 36 states had been affected by a recall of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks after it was discovered that boxes of the cereal had been contaminated by salmonella bacteria. Though the news surprised a lot of dry cereal lovers, it wasn’t the first time a puffed wheat cereal put people in the hospital.
In 2008, Malt-O-Meal voluntarily recalled its puffed wheat and puffed rice cereals after detecting a strain of salmonella responsible for making at least 23 people in 14 states sick. Salmonella is usually associated with wet foods like eggs, chicken and undercooked meat. But, according to experts, the salmonella bacteria also thrives in dry, heavily processed foods. However, it's important to note that this kind of contamination typically happens during processing. For example, the bacteria can be spread from an employee not washing his or her hands before going back to the assembly line. Unlike mold, salmonella is not something cereal can suddenly contract at home while sitting in your pantry. “Contamination related to extended storage doesn’t really happen,” Jennifer Kaplan, Food Systems instructor at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, told TODAY Food.
Which cereals spoil at home?
When it comes to spoilage potential, not all breakfast cereals are the same.
“Cereals with [more] fat are more prone to rancidity,” explained Sharon Palmer, RDN, of The Plant-Powered Dietitian. Palmer said these products include whole grain cereals since the natural fats of the grains are included. Nuts and oils, which are even heavier in fat, can also make a cereal spoil faster. The fats can also oxidize when exposed to heat, light and air which causes the rancidity.
“You can tell if the nuts in your cereal have become rancid if they have a grassy or paint-like odor ... or if they have a dark or oily appearance,” advised Kaplan. “That said, if you eat cereal with rancid nuts or oils, you’re at very little risk. The most common side effect will be an unpleasant taste.”
Do the "best by" and "sell by" dates really matter?
According to Kaplan, most cereals will still be good to eat days, weeks or months after the date indicated on the packaging. “Expiration date labeling looks different across food packages because there is no standardization,” she explained. General Mills, for example, uses “Best if Used By” dates on its packaging. “The purpose of this date is to inform the consumer when the cereal's taste and texture will be best,” Brian Pulvermacher, Director of Quality for General Mills cereals, told TODAY Food. “We conduct storage testing on all of our cereals to determine the shelf life. Consuming cereals after the 'Best if Used By' date does not pose a food safety risk.
"If you eat a cereal after this date, it simply may not taste as good."
Many cereals are like canned foods, which generally stay safe to eat but may lose their texture and color as the months and years pass. For ultimate freshness and quality, FoodSafety.gov recommends consuming any unopened box of cereal within a year of first storing it in your pantry. Once it’s opened, you have up to three months to enjoy it at its peak.
Where and how you store your cereal matters.
When it comes to a cereal’s shelf life, Kaplan said it does make a difference where you store it. She recommended storing it in a way that minimizes exposure to air, heat and light. In other words, store it in a sealed container in a dry, closed pantry. If the cereal becomes exposed to moisture of any kind, it's best to throw it away.
Pulvermacher agreed, adding that the dates General Mills uses are dependent on keeping the cereal in the packaging it was tested in. So there’s no need to move it to a fancy, plastic storage container — unless you want to see exactly how many marshmallows you have left in your Lucky Charms.
Packaged foods like cereal, pasta and cookies will also be safe past the "best by" date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor. If the products have changed noticeably in color, consistency or texture, consumers may want to avoid eating them.
Dry potatoes, flavored rice or pasta Use for up to 6 months past the date marked on the package. Cereals, crackers, chips, rice, and pasta Use for up to 2 years past the date marked on the package. Juice (cans, plastic containers, juice boxes) Use for up to 6 months past the date marked on the package.
But how old is too old when it comes to the beloved breakfast staple? According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), "most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely" — long past the date on the package. However, that doesn't mean the cereal will still taste as great as the day you bought it.
"It's safe to say 'days' but not more than a week for most refrigerated produce, months to years for canned and dry goods in the pantry, and I would say to not go past the date in the fridge for meat/fish/poultry, but they can last three months with good quality and if properly stored in the freezer," Jones says.
While old cereal is technically safe to eat, you take a risk in eating cereal that may taste strange or is softer or more limp than before the expiration date. To minimize changes in flavor and texture, store your ready-to-eat cereals in a cool, dry space.
Cereal primarily consists of carbohydrates, mainly starches, which can break down over time, causing the cereal to go stale and lose its flavor. To determine the freshness of your meal, watch out for changes in color or texture. If you notice discolorations or a loss of crunch, it may be time to replace it.
On those egg cartons, if an expiration date appears, it can be no more than 30 days after the pack date. "As long as they're kept properly refrigerated at 40°F or lower, fresh eggs are safe to eat four to five weeks beyond the carton's Julian date," Maloberti says.
Dates on packages of food (including meat) are not enforceable under the law. The manufacturers put them on the package as a guide for consumers and retailers for quality purposes. The health department cannot enforce these dates as expiration dates related to food safety which require products to be removed from sale.
Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.
A "Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date. A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management.
Food that has passed its best before is safe to eat, but the flavour and texture may change over time. Use your own common sense and preferences to assess it. A sniff and taste test is the best way to do this. Food that has passed its use-by date is not safe to eat.
When it's unopened, breakfast cereal lasts six to eight months past the date on the box. If opened, your favorite cereal will typically stay fresh for between four and six months. In contrast, cooked cereals such as oatmeal will only keep for four to five days in the fridge once prepared. "Cereals don't really go bad.
Enteric viruses can survive on low moisture foods, including cornflakes, for at least four weeks. So, norovirus contamination is possible, noting that the contamination would have to occur after baking.
Sell-By Date: Refers to the last day a retailer can display a product for sale; typically a food is safe to eat for 10 days after the Sell-by Date if refrigerated properly. Use-By Date: Refers to the last day a product will maintain its optimum freshness, flavor, and texture.
It's important to understand that water itself doesn't go bad. Water is a simple molecule composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, and it doesn't have an expiration date. However, the water's storage container can impact its taste, quality, and safety over time.
Generally, food stays in the stomach between 40 minutes to two hours. It then spends around five hours in the small intestine, before passing through the colon, which can take anywhere between 10 to 59 hours.
Most microbial deterioration problems of cereals are caused by molds. Bacteria can also cause spoilage of cereals, but yeasts cause few spoilage problems. The most commonly associated bacterial families with cereals are Bacillaceae, Micrococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae.
If you are like me and get dry grains from the bulk section, you may not even have the slightest clue of when your rice or pasta "expires." Fortunately, it's not something you should start worrying about now. Dried pasta can last for one to two years whereas dry rice is good for four to five years.
Eating popcorn that is two years past its expiration date is not recommended. Popcorn, like any food, can degrade in quality over time, and its taste and texture may be compromised. While it's unlikely to be harmful if properly stored, it may not be a pleasant snacking experience.
Depending on the type, oatmeal can last from 6 months to 3 years with proper storage. Oatmeal that's flavored with fruit or dry cream lasts 6 months on average and instant oatmeal lasts about a year. Similar to other dried foods like pasta, steel cut and rolled oats last for 1 to 2 years.
However, there's really no harm in grains that have gone a little stale. "Grains can be stored for years as long as they are stored in proper dry conditions and cool temperatures. So, don't waste your food," Delarue said.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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