Out of date mozzarella

[filthiestfis]

I have an unopened pack of mozzarella ball in the fridge with a use by date of 15th april. Should I try it or bin it? I often have food out of date such as sandwiches and yogurts, and suffer no problems. However, never had mozzarella for that long! Obviously if when I open it it smells funny I will bin it.

[Androcles]

If it is sealed it should be OK - they always put use buys to give them plenty of room in case of complaints. The wet ones are probably slightly more dodgy than the dry, but your nose is the best test of all with dairy products!

[Buenchico]

'Official'-type answer:
A 'best before' date indicates that the quality of a product might deteriorate after that date, but consuming it will present no risk to health. (It's perfectly legal to sell foodstuffs after their 'best before' date, as long as there's no pretence that the product is still 'in date').

A 'use by' date indicates that there's a potential risk to health if the product is consumed after that date. (It's illegal for a shop keeper to even give a product away, to a member of his staff, after that date). So you shouldn't eat your cheese.

My totally unofficial, 'don't-blame-me-when-you're-writhing-on-the-f
loor-in-agony'
answer:
The bacteria in cheese generally only present a risk to those with deficient immune systems (e.g. young children, the foetuses of pregnant women, the very elderly and those with HIV or other medical conditions impairing the human immune system). If it looks and smells OK, I'd have no hesitation in eating it. (Indeed, I'd go further and ask why you ever put it in the fridge in the first place? Cheese should be allowed to mature at room temperature).

Chris

[filthiestfis]

Chris recently I ate a 3 week old yogurt and had no problems.It is also not uncommon for me to eat out of date eggs either. The mozarella (or however you spell it) is a product that needs refrigerating and is sold as such. It is the wet type, by the way.

[RATTER15]

I will not eat food if I even suspect it to be out of date, if it aint freshh it goes in the bin!! Gross, yuk!!! Buy fresh food man!!!!!

[boxtops]

I am still eating April yoghurts. If it's sealed and it still looks OK, and if it still smells and tastes ok when you open it, I'd use it. Use-by dates (even allowing for what Buenchico says about best advice for customers) are for our guidance (and a good ploy for getting us to buy more stuff, too, I reckon). I often buy food which is short-dated because it's cheaper, and it lasts a good week after that in the fridge, if not longer. (Don't forget I'm the person who asked about 3-year-old Marmite not so long ago.... and when I chucked out a tin of beans with a UBD of April 2006 a few weeks back, my neighbour went mad, he said he'd still have eaten it).

[Panic Button]

Simple test for yogurt.
If it blows a blob onto your shirt when you start peeling off the lid, then it is going off.

If not tuck in. (although give up if it tastes fizzy)

[KARL]

On 31.12.09 we bought several tubs of double cream that was being sold off at a penny each with a use by date of 2.1.10. We finished the last one at the end of March - not at all sour or bitter or in any way objectionable. We have felt fine and continue to exhibit good health - could it be because we are so irreverent ?

[boxtops]

The only thing I will counsel you against fervently is Old Pineapple. I had some festering fresh fruit salad in the back of the fridge which LOOKED ok but patently wasn't - I have never been so ill in my life after eating it, I lost 5 lbs in 24 hours.... and that was old-fresh stuff, nothing to do with UBDs!

[RATTER15]

Whats wrong with FRESH food!!!! so it maybe edible, is that enough? just that it may not make you ill? buy fresh eat fresh!!