OY! WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN??

Do you live on the edge? Do you eat/drink stuff that is past its expiration date? I have a friend who will eat stuff weeks after its expiration date. He says, “Hey, if it kills me, it kills me.” Fatalist that he is, he does live life on the edge. Most of us, however, look at those dates on the product and wonder……..

Well, wonder no more! Here it is: Your handy, dandy Kosher Nexus guide to expiration. Note: If you have expired, skip this column.

?Use by,? ?best if used by,? or ?quality assurance? date: The last date the product is likely to be at peak flavor and quality. One of these dates is often placed on foods such as cereal, which may decline in flavor and quality. It doesn’t mean the food is unsafe after that date.

“Pack” or “package” date: The date the food–fresh meat, for example–was packed or processed. Consumers can tell which package is fresher and choose that one. A pack date isn’t an indication of safety.

?Expiration?: For most foods, this indicates the last date on which they should be eaten or used. Eggs are an exception: If you buy federally graded eggs before the expiration date (which must be no more than 30 days from when they were put in the carton), you should be able to use them safely for the next 3 to 5 weeks.

?Born on?: Initiated by Anheuser-Busch, it’s supposed to let buyers choose the freshest beer. According to the company, its beer is freshest and tastes best within 110 days from the born-on date. (110 days?? Who we kidding here- ever hear of beer hanging around that long??) {For you grammarians out there: Whom are we kidding… ?}
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So there you have it. Now you will never have to experience the tingle of fright that comes from tasting the unknown. Ess gesundt! Of course, there is one test that is always perfect. Stick your nose in the container. If you don’t like the way it smells- throw it out.
(RJR)