What should be done with expired food products?

When dealing with expired food products, the best practice is to reject them. Expired food can pose serious health risks to consumers, as the quality, flavor, and nutritional value may deteriorate over time. Additionally, there is a significant risk of foodborne illness from eating expired products, which may harbor harmful bacteria or pathogens.

Proper food safety protocols emphasize the importance of disposing of expired items to prevent any potential consumption that could lead to illness. By rejecting expired products, food handlers help ensure the safety of the food being served or sold, maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety in food handling.

While donation to charities might seem like a compassionate option, it is considered unsafe to donate expired food, as organizations also have an obligation to ensure the safety of the food they distribute. Therefore, the act of rejecting expired food is a critical step in food safety management.