Food Quality
The Houston Food Bank strives to distribute the best quality of food we can. The Food Bank receives food from various sources; including growers and producers, grocery stores, USDA, and the public. Just like a grocery store, the Food Bank has to sort, inspect and process all product. Some of our product may look a little different – produce may be in weird shapes, cans may have slight dents, exterior packaging may be taped, and dates may have passed.
According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, only infant formula requires expiration dating. All other foods are dated voluntarily by the manufacturer and the dates do not indicate if food is safe to eat or not, they simply indicate best quality of the item. There are three ways products are dated:
- “Sell by” tells the store how long to display the product for sale. You should buy the product before the date expires.
- “Best if used by (or before)” is a manufacturer’s recommendation for best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
- “Use by” is the last date recommended for use of the product while at peak quality. The manufacturer of the product has determined the date.
In general, most canned foods have a long shelf life, and when properly stored, can be eaten for several years. Cereal can be good for up to six months past “Best if Used By” date. Dry pasta and rice can be eaten for a year or two after their sell-by dates. Juice has a shelf-life of up to 12 months when stored unopened. According to the USDA, packaged and fresh meats can be safely eaten for up to a year after being frozen. The Houston Food Bank receives and freezes retail meat before expiration. It is then stored and transported to partners while maintaining proper temperature for safe consumption.
It is always best to use your best judgement as well. If something seems questionable, don’t consume it.