Senior News Line: Expired products at home?

When the pandemic began over five years ago and our stores were keeping odd hours and sometimes the shelves were empty, many of us stocked up on food and supplies when we could get them.

We chose canned goods and dry boxed foods like pasta, as well as staples like bleach and sanitizing wipes.

Where are those items now? Are some of them still on our shelves at home, maybe tucked in the back and kept for emergencies?

It’s time to check those items for expiration dates. Most are likely too old to be used, and many of them can make us sick if we do.

Here are a few hints as you go through your stash:

• You’ll likely need a magnifying glass as you look at each item because the dates are often very small.

• The dilemma with foods is that the experts don’t agree. Some claim that an expiration date doesn’t really mean the food is no longer good, while some say to pay attention to the dates.

• Plus, there’s a difference between “best by,” “sell by” and “use by” dates. Confusing, isn’t it? I tend to go by the date that’s printed as the cutoff date.

• Bleach really does expire and lose potency, and so do the sanitizing wipes, antibacterial hand soap and other cleaning products.

• Look on the product for a lot number and check the company’s website for dates of manufacture or how to decode the batch number.

• Even your shampoo has a limit to the time it can sit unused in your bathroom cabinet, and so do toothpaste, deodorant, hand lotion, eye drops — nearly everything you use.

• Go online to www.checkfresh.com. Click the brand of your item and type in the lot number. It will tell you when it was made.

• When in doubt, call the manufacturer. It’s better to be safe than to use an expired product.

Best By vs. Sell By

Here is a breakdown of common food labels:

Best By/Best Used By: This label refers to quality, not safety. The food may not taste as fresh after this date, but it’s still safe to eat.

Use By: Found on perishable items like meat, yogurt and eggs, this label indicates peak quality. In most cases, a one-week grace period applies if stored properly.

Sell By: This tells stores how long to display the product. Food is usually still safe for several days to weeks after this date if stored correctly.

Expiration Date: The only food legally required to have an expiration date in the United States is infant formula.