🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 18 (from laksa063)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa018.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://covingtonhospital.com/do-food-expiration-dates-really-matter/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://covingtonhospital.com/do-food-expiration-dates-really-matter/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/do-food-expiration-dates-really-matter\/","crawl_time":1774025406,"first_indexed_time":1690442606,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,covingtonhospital!\/do-food-expiration-dates-really-matter\/ s443","src_root_hash":"11561226589086154018","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Do food expiration dates really matter? - Covington Hospital","meta_descriptions":["Discover the truth about food expiration dates and how long it is safe to eat expired foods."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Trash it or not … how long is it safe to eat expired foods  \nThere has been a time in all of our lives when we grabbed something from the refrigerator and noticed the expiration date had passed. Whether it’s one day or a week, we all wonder what this date really means—can we still eat the food, and does the expiration date really matter?\nContrary to most beliefs, according to the\nU.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service\n, expiration dates on food are not a requirement by the federal government, except for on baby formula. However,\nsome states\ndo require expiration dates by law.\nThe words found on the food expiration dates are not a hard “throw this away” date. These words are meant to be quality callouts to retailers and manufacturers.\n“Sell-by”\ndate indicates to the retailer to move a food product off the shelf.\n“Best if used by”\ndate notifies the differences in food quality after the date.\n“Use-by”\ndate is the last date manufacturers suggest using the food item based on the quality.\nNone of these phrases indicate a product is not safe.\nIs Food Safe After It Expires?\nIs the expiration date on food really a matter of concern? No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety.\nWhat to look for to know if food is bad:\nThe smell is off.\nThere is mold present on the food.\nThe food’s texture has changed.\nThe food has an unpleasant or “different” taste.\nThe General Guidelines for Common Food Items\nAfter bringing food home, the following items should be safe in the refrigerator or pantry for the following\namount\nof time. Also, putting items in the\nfreezer\ncan preserve the food quality longer without reducing the nutritional value.\nMilk:\n7 days in the refrigerator\nEggs:\n3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator\nGround Meat:\n1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer\nLunch meat:\n2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer\nDry Pasta:\n1 to 2 years in the pantry\nSteaks:\n3 to 5 days in the refrigerator\nFresh Poultry:\n1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer\nCanned Fruit:\n12 to 18 months in the pantry or 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator\nRice:\n2 years in the pantry\nIf you or a loved one are suffering from food poisoning or other symptoms of eating spoiled food,\nCovington Trace ER & Hospital’s\nteam of expert physicians are here to initiate treatment to help you heal quickly. For efficient, compassionate, and accurate care, come to our facility 24\/7\/365.\nDisclaimer:\nAs a service to our readers, Covington Trace ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.\nCategory\nTags","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/jelly.mdhv.io\/v1\/star.gif?pid=lv6M2Qm9I6h7mFO93sWksNRg0BfF&src=mh&evt=hi)\n\n[Skip to content](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/do-food-expiration-dates-really-matter\/#content)\n\n[![](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Covington_Logo_Mar2022-02.png) ![](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Covington_Logo_Mar2022-01.png)](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/)\n- [About](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/about\/)\n  - [Meet the Team](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/meet-the-team\/)\n  - [Nutex Health](https:\/\/nutexhealth.com\/)\n- [Services](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/services\/)\n  - [24\/7 Emergency Room](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/24-7-emergency-room\/)\n  - [Pediatrics](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/pediatrics\/)\n  - [Imaging & Laboratory](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/imaging-laboratory\/)\n  - [Outpatient Services](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/outpatient-services\/)\n  - [Inpatient Care](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/inpatient-care\/)\n  - [Wellness](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wellness\/)\n- [Resources](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/resources\/)\n  - [FAQ](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/faq\/)\n  - [Career](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/career\/)\n  - [Billing & Insurance](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/billing-insurance\/)\n  - [Price Transparency](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/price-transparency\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/blog\/)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/contact\/)\n- [Pay My Bill](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/pay-my-bill\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Covington_Logo_Mar2022-02.png) ![](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Covington_Logo_Mar2022-01.png)](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/)\n\n- [Home](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/)\n- [About](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/about\/)\n  - [Meet the Team](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/meet-the-team\/)\n  - [Nutex Health](https:\/\/nutexhealth.com\/)\n- [Services](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/services\/)\n  - [24\/7 Emergency Room](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/24-7-emergency-room\/)\n  - [Pediatrics](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/pediatrics\/)\n  - [Imaging & Laboratory](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/imaging-laboratory\/)\n  - [Outpatient Services](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/outpatient-services\/)\n  - [Inpatient Care](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/inpatient-care\/)\n  - [Wellness](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wellness\/)\n- [Resources](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/resources\/)\n  - [FAQ](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/faq\/)\n  - [Career](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/career\/)\n  - [Billing & Insurance](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/billing-insurance\/)\n  - [Price Transparency](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/price-transparency\/)\n- [Blog](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/blog\/)\n- [Contact](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/contact\/)\n- [Pay My Bill](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/pay-my-bill\/)\n\n© 2026 Covington Hospital. Created for free using WordPress and [Colibri](https:\/\/colibriwp.com\/)\n# Do food expiration dates really matter?\n\n![pointing to expiration date on can of food](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Untitled-design-2025-09-30T135147.134-scaled.png)\n\n[July 27, 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/07\/27\/)\n\n## Trash it or not … how long is it safe to eat expired foods\nThere has been a time in all of our lives when we grabbed something from the refrigerator and noticed the expiration date had passed. Whether it’s one day or a week, we all wonder what this date really means—can we still eat the food, and does the expiration date really matter?\n\n## **About Expiration Dates**\nContrary to most beliefs, according to the [U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service](https:\/\/www.fsis.usda.gov\/food-safety\/safe-food-handling-and-preparation\/food-safety-basics\/food-product-dating), expiration dates on food are not a requirement by the federal government, except for on baby formula. However, [some states](https:\/\/refed.org\/downloads\/ReFED_HFLPC_Policy_Chart.pdf) do require expiration dates by law.\n\nThe words found on the food expiration dates are not a hard “throw this away” date. These words are meant to be quality callouts to retailers and manufacturers.\n\n- **“Sell-by”** date indicates to the retailer to move a food product off the shelf.\n- **“Best if used by”** date notifies the differences in food quality after the date.\n- **“Use-by”** date is the last date manufacturers suggest using the food item based on the quality.\n\nNone of these phrases indicate a product is not safe.\n\n## **Is Food Safe After It Expires?**\nIs the expiration date on food really a matter of concern? No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety.\n\n### **What to look for to know if food is bad:**\n- The smell is off.\n- There is mold present on the food.\n- The food’s texture has changed.\n- The food has an unpleasant or “different” taste.\n## **The General Guidelines for Common Food Items**\nAfter bringing food home, the following items should be safe in the refrigerator or pantry for the following [amount](https:\/\/www.foodsafety.gov\/food-safety-charts\/cold-food-storage-charts) of time. Also, putting items in the [freezer](https:\/\/www.fsis.usda.gov\/food-safety\/safe-food-handling-and-preparation\/food-safety-basics\/freezing-and-food-safety) can preserve the food quality longer without reducing the nutritional value.\n\n- **Milk:** 7 days in the refrigerator\n- **Eggs:** 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator\n- **Ground Meat:** 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer\n- **Lunch meat:** 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer\n- **Dry Pasta:** 1 to 2 years in the pantry\n- **Steaks:** 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator\n- **Fresh Poultry:** 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer\n- **Canned Fruit:** 12 to 18 months in the pantry or 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator\n- **Rice:** 2 years in the pantry\n\nIf you or a loved one are suffering from food poisoning or other symptoms of eating spoiled food, [Covington Trace ER & Hospital’s](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/) team of expert physicians are here to initiate treatment to help you heal quickly. For efficient, compassionate, and accurate care, come to our facility 24\/7\/365.\n\n**Disclaimer:** As a service to our readers, Covington Trace ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.\n\n###### Category\n[Uncategorized](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/category\/uncategorized\/)\n###### Tags\n[ER](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/tag\/er\/ \"ER Tag\")[Expiration Date](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/tag\/expiration-date\/ \"Expiration Date Tag\")[Food](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/tag\/food\/ \"Food Tag\")[Food Safety](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/tag\/food-safety\/ \"Food Safety Tag\")[Health](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/tag\/health\/ \"Health Tag\")[Hospital](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/tag\/hospital\/ \"Hospital Tag\")\n\n## Post navigation\n[Previous post The Dangers of Drinking Alcohol While Taking Medication](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/the-dangers-of-drinking-alcohol-while-taking-medication\/)\n\n## Post navigation\n[Next post How to Properly Dispose of Expired Medication](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/how-to-properly-dispose-of-expired-medication\/)\n\nComments are closed\n\n## Recent Posts\n- [Honoring Our Healthcare Heroes: Certified Nurses Day](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/honoring-our-healthcare-heroes-certified-nurses-day\/)\n- [A Bad Bug Bite: When is it time to go to the emergency room?](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/a-bad-bug-bite-when-is-it-time-to-go-to-the-emergency-room\/)\n- [Can You Get Dehydrated in the Winter?](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/can-you-get-dehydrated-in-the-winter\/)\n- [Understanding Chest Pain and When to Seek Emergency Care](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/understanding-chest-pain-and-when-to-seek-emergency-care\/)\n- [Start the New Year Strong with Preventive Screenings and Testing](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/start-the-new-year-strong-with-preventive-screenings-and-testing\/)\n\n##### Recent Posts\n- [Honoring Our Healthcare Heroes: Certified Nurses Day](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/honoring-our-healthcare-heroes-certified-nurses-day\/)\n- [A Bad Bug Bite: When is it time to go to the emergency room?](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/a-bad-bug-bite-when-is-it-time-to-go-to-the-emergency-room\/)\n- [Can You Get Dehydrated in the Winter?](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/can-you-get-dehydrated-in-the-winter\/)\n- [Understanding Chest Pain and When to Seek Emergency Care](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/understanding-chest-pain-and-when-to-seek-emergency-care\/)\n- [Start the New Year Strong with Preventive Screenings and Testing](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/start-the-new-year-strong-with-preventive-screenings-and-testing\/)\n\n##### Archives\n- [March 2026](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2026\/03\/)\n- [February 2026](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2026\/02\/)\n- [January 2026](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2026\/01\/)\n- [December 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/12\/)\n- [November 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/11\/)\n- [October 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/10\/)\n- [September 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/09\/)\n- [August 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/08\/)\n- [July 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/07\/)\n- [June 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/06\/)\n- [May 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/05\/)\n- [April 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/04\/)\n- [March 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/03\/)\n- [February 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/02\/)\n- [January 2025](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2025\/01\/)\n- [December 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/12\/)\n- [November 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/11\/)\n- [October 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/10\/)\n- [September 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/09\/)\n- [August 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/08\/)\n- [July 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/07\/)\n- [June 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/06\/)\n- [May 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/05\/)\n- [April 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/04\/)\n- [March 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/03\/)\n- [February 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/02\/)\n- [January 2024](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2024\/01\/)\n- [December 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/12\/)\n- [November 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/11\/)\n- [October 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/10\/)\n- [September 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/09\/)\n- [August 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/08\/)\n- [July 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/07\/)\n- [June 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/06\/)\n- [May 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/05\/)\n- [April 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/04\/)\n- [March 2023](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2023\/03\/)\n- [October 2022](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/2022\/10\/)\n\n![](http:\/\/vbz.97b.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Covington_Logo_Mar2022-02.png)\n\n4107 LA-59,\n\nMandeville, LA 70471\n\nP: 985-951-3650\n\nF: 985-951-3659\n\n- [Contact](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/contact\/)\n- [Billing & Insurance](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/billing-insurance\/)\n- [Price Transparency](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/price-transparency\/)\n- [Charge Master](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/csv-download\/863658746_covington-hospital-llc_standardchargesin)\n- [Charge Master (Shoppable)](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/863658746_covington-hospital-llc_standardcharges.pdf)\n- [Whistleblower Policy](https:\/\/www.nutexhealth.com\/whistleblower\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/privacy-policy-2\/)\n\n[![](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Covington_Logo_Mar2022-02.png) ![](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Covington_Logo_Mar2022-01.png)](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/)\n\n- [Contact](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/contact\/)\n- [Billing & Insurance](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/billing-insurance\/)\n- [Price Transparency](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/price-transparency\/)\n- [Charge Master](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/csv-download\/863658746_covington-hospital-llc_standardchargesin)\n- [Charge Master (Shoppable)](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/863658746_covington-hospital-llc_standardcharges.pdf)\n- [Whistleblower Policy](https:\/\/www.nutexhealth.com\/whistleblower\/)\n- [Privacy Policy](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/privacy-policy-2\/)\n\n© 2023\n\n![](https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/covingtonhospital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/CIHQ-Logo.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)\n\n© 2026 Covington Hospital.","attrs_readable_markdown":"## Trash it or not … how long is it safe to eat expired foods\nThere has been a time in all of our lives when we grabbed something from the refrigerator and noticed the expiration date had passed. Whether it’s one day or a week, we all wonder what this date really means—can we still eat the food, and does the expiration date really matter?\n\nContrary to most beliefs, according to the [U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service](https:\/\/www.fsis.usda.gov\/food-safety\/safe-food-handling-and-preparation\/food-safety-basics\/food-product-dating), expiration dates on food are not a requirement by the federal government, except for on baby formula. However, [some states](https:\/\/refed.org\/downloads\/ReFED_HFLPC_Policy_Chart.pdf) do require expiration dates by law.\n\nThe words found on the food expiration dates are not a hard “throw this away” date. These words are meant to be quality callouts to retailers and manufacturers.\n\n- **“Sell-by”** date indicates to the retailer to move a food product off the shelf.\n- **“Best if used by”** date notifies the differences in food quality after the date.\n- **“Use-by”** date is the last date manufacturers suggest using the food item based on the quality.\n\nNone of these phrases indicate a product is not safe.\n\n## **Is Food Safe After It Expires?**\nIs the expiration date on food really a matter of concern? No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety.\n\n### **What to look for to know if food is bad:**\n- The smell is off.\n- There is mold present on the food.\n- The food’s texture has changed.\n- The food has an unpleasant or “different” taste.\n## **The General Guidelines for Common Food Items**\nAfter bringing food home, the following items should be safe in the refrigerator or pantry for the following [amount](https:\/\/www.foodsafety.gov\/food-safety-charts\/cold-food-storage-charts) of time. Also, putting items in the [freezer](https:\/\/www.fsis.usda.gov\/food-safety\/safe-food-handling-and-preparation\/food-safety-basics\/freezing-and-food-safety) can preserve the food quality longer without reducing the nutritional value.\n\n- **Milk:** 7 days in the refrigerator\n- **Eggs:** 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator\n- **Ground Meat:** 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer\n- **Lunch meat:** 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer\n- **Dry Pasta:** 1 to 2 years in the pantry\n- **Steaks:** 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator\n- **Fresh Poultry:** 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer\n- **Canned Fruit:** 12 to 18 months in the pantry or 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator\n- **Rice:** 2 years in the pantry\n\nIf you or a loved one are suffering from food poisoning or other symptoms of eating spoiled food, [Covington Trace ER & Hospital’s](https:\/\/covingtonhospital.com\/) team of expert physicians are here to initiate treatment to help you heal quickly. For efficient, compassionate, and accurate care, come to our facility 24\/7\/365.\n\n**Disclaimer:** As a service to our readers, Covington Trace ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.\n\nCategory\n\nTags","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

18 days ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.6 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://covingtonhospital.com/do-food-expiration-dates-really-matter/
Last Crawled	2026-03-20 16:50:06 (18 days ago)
First Indexed	2023-07-27 07:23:26 (2 years ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Do food expiration dates really matter? - Covington Hospital
Meta Description	Discover the truth about food expiration dates and how long it is safe to eat expired foods.
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Boilerpipe Text	Trash it or not … how long is it safe to eat expired foods There has been a time in all of our lives when we grabbed something from the refrigerator and noticed the expiration date had passed. Whether it’s one day or a week, we all wonder what this date really means—can we still eat the food, and does the expiration date really matter? Contrary to most beliefs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service , expiration dates on food are not a requirement by the federal government, except for on baby formula. However, some states do require expiration dates by law. The words found on the food expiration dates are not a hard “throw this away” date. These words are meant to be quality callouts to retailers and manufacturers. “Sell-by” date indicates to the retailer to move a food product off the shelf. “Best if used by” date notifies the differences in food quality after the date. “Use-by” date is the last date manufacturers suggest using the food item based on the quality. None of these phrases indicate a product is not safe. Is Food Safe After It Expires? Is the expiration date on food really a matter of concern? No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety. What to look for to know if food is bad: The smell is off. There is mold present on the food. The food’s texture has changed. The food has an unpleasant or “different” taste. The General Guidelines for Common Food Items After bringing food home, the following items should be safe in the refrigerator or pantry for the following amount of time. Also, putting items in the freezer can preserve the food quality longer without reducing the nutritional value. Milk: 7 days in the refrigerator Eggs: 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator Ground Meat: 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer Lunch meat: 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer Dry Pasta: 1 to 2 years in the pantry Steaks: 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator Fresh Poultry: 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer Canned Fruit: 12 to 18 months in the pantry or 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator Rice: 2 years in the pantry If you or a loved one are suffering from food poisoning or other symptoms of eating spoiled food, Covington Trace ER & Hospital’s team of expert physicians are here to initiate treatment to help you heal quickly. For efficient, compassionate, and accurate care, come to our facility 24/7/365. Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, Covington Trace ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Category Tags
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Created for free using WordPress and [Colibri](https://colibriwp.com/) # Do food expiration dates really matter? ![pointing to expiration date on can of food](https://covingtonhospital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Untitled-design-2025-09-30T135147.134-scaled.png) [July 27, 2023](https://covingtonhospital.com/2023/07/27/) ## Trash it or not … how long is it safe to eat expired foods There has been a time in all of our lives when we grabbed something from the refrigerator and noticed the expiration date had passed. Whether it’s one day or a week, we all wonder what this date really means—can we still eat the food, and does the expiration date really matter? ## About Expiration Dates Contrary to most beliefs, according to the [U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating), expiration dates on food are not a requirement by the federal government, except for on baby formula. However, [some states](https://refed.org/downloads/ReFED_HFLPC_Policy_Chart.pdf) do require expiration dates by law. The words found on the food expiration dates are not a hard “throw this away” date. These words are meant to be quality callouts to retailers and manufacturers. - “Sell-by” date indicates to the retailer to move a food product off the shelf. - “Best if used by” date notifies the differences in food quality after the date. - “Use-by” date is the last date manufacturers suggest using the food item based on the quality. None of these phrases indicate a product is not safe. ## Is Food Safe After It Expires? Is the expiration date on food really a matter of concern? No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety. ### What to look for to know if food is bad: - The smell is off. - There is mold present on the food. - The food’s texture has changed. - The food has an unpleasant or “different” taste. ## The General Guidelines for Common Food Items After bringing food home, the following items should be safe in the refrigerator or pantry for the following [amount](https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts) of time. Also, putting items in the [freezer](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/freezing-and-food-safety) can preserve the food quality longer without reducing the nutritional value. - Milk: 7 days in the refrigerator - Eggs: 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator - Ground Meat: 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer - Lunch meat: 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer - Dry Pasta: 1 to 2 years in the pantry - Steaks: 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator - Fresh Poultry: 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer - Canned Fruit: 12 to 18 months in the pantry or 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator - Rice: 2 years in the pantry If you or a loved one are suffering from food poisoning or other symptoms of eating spoiled food, [Covington Trace ER & Hospital’s](https://covingtonhospital.com/) team of expert physicians are here to initiate treatment to help you heal quickly. For efficient, compassionate, and accurate care, come to our facility 24/7/365. 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Readable Markdown	## Trash it or not … how long is it safe to eat expired foods There has been a time in all of our lives when we grabbed something from the refrigerator and noticed the expiration date had passed. Whether it’s one day or a week, we all wonder what this date really means—can we still eat the food, and does the expiration date really matter? Contrary to most beliefs, according to the [U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating), expiration dates on food are not a requirement by the federal government, except for on baby formula. However, [some states](https://refed.org/downloads/ReFED_HFLPC_Policy_Chart.pdf) do require expiration dates by law. The words found on the food expiration dates are not a hard “throw this away” date. These words are meant to be quality callouts to retailers and manufacturers. - “Sell-by” date indicates to the retailer to move a food product off the shelf. - “Best if used by” date notifies the differences in food quality after the date. - “Use-by” date is the last date manufacturers suggest using the food item based on the quality. None of these phrases indicate a product is not safe. ## Is Food Safe After It Expires? Is the expiration date on food really a matter of concern? No, the expiration dates on food are directly related to quality and not safety. However, food does spoil or “go bad.” It is recommended to use a food product by the listed date and to use your best judgment on throwing food out for health and safety. ### What to look for to know if food is bad: - The smell is off. - There is mold present on the food. - The food’s texture has changed. - The food has an unpleasant or “different” taste. ## The General Guidelines for Common Food Items After bringing food home, the following items should be safe in the refrigerator or pantry for the following [amount](https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/cold-food-storage-charts) of time. Also, putting items in the [freezer](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/freezing-and-food-safety) can preserve the food quality longer without reducing the nutritional value. - Milk: 7 days in the refrigerator - Eggs: 3 to 5 weeks in the refrigerator - Ground Meat: 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 3 to 4 months in the freezer - Lunch meat: 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer - Dry Pasta: 1 to 2 years in the pantry - Steaks: 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator - Fresh Poultry: 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator or 1 year in the freezer - Canned Fruit: 12 to 18 months in the pantry or 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator - Rice: 2 years in the pantry If you or a loved one are suffering from food poisoning or other symptoms of eating spoiled food, [Covington Trace ER & Hospital’s](https://covingtonhospital.com/) team of expert physicians are here to initiate treatment to help you heal quickly. For efficient, compassionate, and accurate care, come to our facility 24/7/365. Disclaimer: As a service to our readers, Covington Trace ER & Hospital and Nutex Health state no content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. Category Tags
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