Five expired foods you can still eat

A supermarket in Boston is going to sell only food that's past its sell-by date. So what are they, asks Rajini Vaidyanathan.

In the US alone, 40% of food is thrown out, partly because of confusing date labels, telling consumers to "use by", "sell by" and "enjoy by" a certain time. Some of the dates are not about safety but taste, says Dana Gunders, a food scientist from the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC), which has issued a report saying much of the food labelled bad is actually perfectly edible.

Early next year, businessman Doug Rauch, once behind the successful Trader Joe's chain in the US, is opening a supermarket and restaurant which will sell outdated food. So what are some of those foods?

Tortilla chips aren't going to make you sick after a month, says Gunders, although they might start tasting stale. Putting them in an oven with oil will re-crisp them again, while storing in a sealed container extends their life by keeping moisture out. Gunders says yogurt can last beyond six weeks and she often scrapes off the mould. "I eat yogurt months past its date, I haven't ever had a problem."

Chocolate can last a long time, she adds, but it often develops a white coating, known as the "bloom", when it's exposed to the air. This happens when some of the crystalline fat melts and rises to the top. It's not mould, she says, and it's fine to eat.

People throw out eggs much earlier than they need to, says Gunders - they can last 3-5 weeks. But keep them at a temperature below 5C (41F), says Ted Labuza, a professor of food science at the University of Minnesota, because that helps prevent potential growth of Salmonella enteritidis.

Milk will smell or taste bad long before it makes you sick, says Labuza. Don't let the container sit out at room temperature because microbes in the air will spoil the milk - close it up quickly and return it to the refrigerator, which should be set at around 2C (36F) to help prolong its life.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. The outdated foods will be in a section of the supermarket.

b. The “use by” labels don’t only refer to the state of the food.

c. Dana Gunders gives tips about keeping some of the foods.

d. As soon as milk starts smelling bad, you mustn’t drink it.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. Which two initiatives will stop food from being thrown out?

b. How should eggs and milk be kept?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. to publish (par.2)                   b. wetness (par.4)                     c. to dissolve (par.5)

d. to stop (par.6)                       e. to damage (par.7)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Dough Rauch is opening a supermarket and a restaurant next year.

    A supermarket …………………………………. 

b “I eat yogurt months past its date. I haven’t ever had a problem.” Gunders says.

    Gunders said that …………………………….

c. Chocolate develops a white coating because fat melts and rises to the top.

    If fat …………………………………….

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Eating at home or eating out. What do you prefer?