Donald Schaffner

Experts warn that discarding food solely based on expiration dates is often unnecessary, as these labels typically indicate quality rather than safety. California has introduced a law simplifying date labels to two categories, while over 50 different labels exist in the U.S., causing confusion. Food scientists emphasize that many products remain safe to consume past labeled dates, with storage methods and product type affecting shelf life.

Experts warn that discarding food solely based on label dates often results in waste, as these dates typically indicate quality, not safety. California is implementing a law to standardize food date labels, and researchers note over 50 different date labels exist in the U.S., causing consumer confusion.

A cyclospora outbreak in the U.S. has highlighted issues in public health infrastructure, including reduced federal surveillance of foodborne illnesses through the FoodNet program. Public health experts argue the outbreak reveals systemic underfunding and outdated resources, despite CDC claims that data collection remains unchanged.

Cracked eggs pose a higher risk of Salmonella contamination and should be discarded, according to experts. While small recent cracks may reduce spoilage risk, fully cooking eggs can mitigate but not entirely eliminate bacterial threats. The CDC advises discarding cracked or dirty eggs.