A co-worker of mine recently refused to eat two snacks she got out of the vending machine because they were past their expiration date. Please tell me I'm not the only one who disregards dates for most items! My favorite store is a "scratch and dent" type place that sells expired food or foods in damaged packing (i.e. broken boxes, not dented or broken cans). I have found that most items are good long beyond their dates.
For example: most hard or shredded cheese is good for a month or more past the date, if it hasn't been opened. In about two years, I have only ever bought one package of cheese that I couldn't eat. I've also eaten cottage and ricotta cheese several months past the date (although I don't open the package until I'm ready to use it).
yogurt: I've eaten this at least a month past the date (although once it's opened, it does go downhill fast).
eggs: the article below states they are good for 3-5 weeks past the expiration date.
frozen meats or entrees: they're frozen. So long as they were frozen by the expiration date, I figure they are good until I get around to eating them (of course, the longer they spend in the freezer, the quality does decrease).
I regularly get these items at half price or less. I hope I'm not the only one...although I sure do enjoy the savings, and I'm happy to eat what others won't if it saves me money!
Food Expiration Dates: What Do They Really Mean? ; Seattle Washington WA