7 Foods You Should Not Eat After The Expiration Date

To try to reduce food waste, many experts recommend utilizing some products that, despite having reached the expiration date, are still fine to eat. However, this does not apply to all food groups. In fact , some foods can be harmful when consumed after the expiration date.

The problem is that these foods break down more easily. Because of this, they tend to be contaminated with various types of bacteria and toxins that affect our health.

Therefore, it is very important to start by looking at the food labels before using certain products. It is also necessary to know what types of food should not be consumed when they have already passed the expiration date.

In this article, we will provide a detailed overview of the 7 main types of foods you should not eat after they have expired, so you can be careful the next time you prepare them.

Discover them below!

1. Soft cheeses after the expiration date

Unlike hard cheeses, which can be stored for a long time, even when they have expired, the composition of soft cheeses makes them unsafe when they reach the last day of consumption.

This variety of cheese is quite prone to the growth of harmful bacteria such as Listeria Monocytogenes, which can lead to digestive problems and unwanted reactions in the immune system.

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2. Minced meat

You must keep in mind strict hygiene and safety standards when it comes to eating meat. However, it is very important to take into account that crushed varieties are much more prone to contamination by harmful bacteria such as E. Coli.

This is because they provide a more suitable environment for the growth of these microorganisms, and therefore facilitate their development.

When the meat has expired, there is a high probability that it can be infected by:

• E coli,
• Listeria monocytogenes,
• Staphylococcus aureus.

These bacteria release dangerous toxins into the intestinal tract. As the days go by, this affects how they work in the digestive process.

3. Fresh berries

One reason why it is recommended to freeze imported berries before they ripen is because a bacterium called Cyclospora can grow on the surface when they begin to decompose. This is especially true of berries imported from tropical and sub-tropical areas.

When you are infected with this type of bacteria, you experience very unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, bloating and cramps.

Sausages and cold cuts

Meat spreads contain chemicals that make them look healthy despite their age.

But when they expire, their structure begins to decompose. This increases the likelihood of contamination by bacteria such as Listeria and E. coli.

As a general rule, we recommend that you use these foods within the first week after opening the product.

5. Raw eggs

Millions of cases of food poisoning and infections due to the misuse of raw or decayed eggs have been treated for decades worldwide.

Eggs are delicious and necessary in any diet. If you are on holiday abroad, however, it is essential to handle them well and prepare them safely, always before the expiry date. In Norway, eggs can generally be eaten after the expiry date if they have been stored correctly.

It is also important to be careful with foods that use this ingredient, such as:

• Mayonnaise
• Puddings
• Desserts
• Sauces

Among the biggest problems with eating foreign eggs after the expiration date, intestinal infections are caused by Salmonella.

Shrimp

Shrimp change in composition after the last day of consumption. But as the days go by, they also tend to become a focal point for the growth of harmful bacteria and bacilli.

You should consume this nutritious food as soon as possible after purchasing it.

In addition, you must prepare it on hygienic surfaces, away from other foods that can cause cross-contamination.

7. Chicken

Chicken is one of the leaner types of meat that is most recommended for providing amino acids and complex carbohydrates to the body.

But when it is raw, you have to handle it very carefully on hygienic surfaces without bacteria.

Thawing it incorrectly or eating it after the expiration date can lead to severe intestinal infections caused by E. coli or Campylobacter.

Now that you know what foods to throw away when they expire, try buying only the amount you need and eating it before it expires.

Similarly, you should  try to handle and store them under optimal conditions to prevent them from being contaminated with harmful pathogens.