Expired means it’s still good though, right?

– Time For A Tiara: Column by Ginna Young –

The other day, I noticed something I needed to throw away out of the office refrigerator and while I was doing that, my eyes lit on the condiments in the door of the fridge. Hmmm, when was the last time that got cleaned out?

Apparently, the answer to that, was 2020. I know this, because the off-brand ketchup I used the previous week, when I ran out of Heinz, seemed a little...well...off. I thought at the time, it was just because it wasn’t that lovely a consistency and taste of the ketchup I was used to.

However, on inspection of the bottle as I was cleaning out, I discovered that the expiration date said June of 2020. No wonder it was a weird color and tasted terrible. Honestly, I’m probably lucky it didn’t give me food poisoning.

Anyway, once I saw that long expired date, I started tossing with reckless abandon. Out went the large jug of barbecue sauce I’d gotten for an unbeatable price three or four(?) years ago, as well as the smaller and newer bottle, that was nonetheless expired.

I also don’t like to fool around with ranch or mayo, so, knowing those had been open for at least a year, I whipped those in the trash bag, too. Having a very dim recollection of the last time we’d used store-bought French dressing on a salad, I discarded that, as well.

It was an internal debate about whether to keep or toss the mustard, but I decided it hadn’t been that long since we opened it and used it. After I finished, the refrigerator door looked pretty bare, but I was pleased with myself for removing potentially health-hazard items.

Of course, that sense of accomplishment didn’t last long, as I got raked over the coals by one of my co-workers, who didn’t think the items were unsafe. She couldn’t believe I had the audacity to throw out expired products, on the very possibility it might make us sick by using them.

Well, isn’t that what expiration dates are for? It gives you that guide to determine what’s safe to consume and what isn’t. For example, according to realsimple.com, ketchup is good for only six months after it’s opened and for one year, if unopened.

With the 2020 date on that opened bottle that I used that was in the fridge, I’m lucky to still be upright and not in the hospital, on a liquid-only diet. All I can say is, said co-worker should be happy I didn’t get rid of the stash of hot sauce, ketchup and soy sauce packets that (still) reside in the little pocket of the fridge’s side door.

Those have probably been there for about 10 years, but she continues to use them. Maybe on my next shopping trip, I should stock up on Pepto Bismol.