Every year, tons of food are discarded simply because it has passed its “best by” or “sell by” date. But what many people don’t realize is that these dates are often about quality and not safety. In fact, much of this food is still perfectly edible and could make a meaningful difference for someone facing food insecurity.
Food pantries across the country are increasingly open to accepting certain expired items, especially shelf-stable goods like canned vegetables, pasta, rice and cereals and the Kewanee Food Pantry is no exception.
Sandy Hill, board member and volunteer for the local food pantry, said many people are under the mistaken impression that the expiration dates on food items are a hard and fast rule, but that’s not the case.
Most canned good items can be eaten even years past the date on the can. And items left for a long time in the freezer are often safe to consume as well.
According to the USDA, food poisoning bacteria doesn’t grow in the freezer, so no matter how long food is frozen, it’s still safe to eat, although the texture may be changed and it may not taste as good as it would have if it were fresher.
As far as food in your pantry or cupboards, the USDA said that most shelf foods are safe indefinitely. “In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can is in good condition” meaning no rust, dents or swelling. And packaged foods such as cereal, pasta and cookies will be safe past the “best by” date, although they may become stale or develop an “off flavor.”
For those residents who aren’t comfortable eating expired food and make a practice of throwing it out, Hill hopes they consider donating those items to the food pantry.
Donating expired, but still safe food helps reduce waste and supports local families in need. The practice of donating rather than dumping also challenges the stigma around food labeling.
Instead of tossing that box of crackers or jar of peanut butter, the food pantry staff and board hope Kewanee residents will consider giving them a second life on someone else’s shelf.
Food donations to the pantry can be made on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays 3-6 p.m. Items currently needed include cereal, soup and canned vegetables. Cash donations can be made to the food pantry by sending a check to Kewanee Food Pantry, P.O. Box 492, Kewanee.
