When is yogurt too old

It's what's called " chocolate bloom " — either of the fat or sugar variety — and it can be safe to eat. If chocolate is stored in a cool place 70 degrees or below , it will outlast its sell-by date. But as with chips, what are the chances you'll have chocolate for more than, like, five minutes?

People hate spending money on condiments like ketchup, mayo, and jam, because it seems like you can never use it all before it expires. However, if your food is heavily freezer-burned, you may want to discard it for quality reasons. A little bruised cucumber or wilted lettuce shouldn't hurt you as long as it smells fine , and neither should bagged salad eaten past its expiration date.

When it comes to fruits and vegetables, it's simple: If it's rotten, don't eat it. And if it's just a little wilted, you could always cook or freeze it instead. Tamika Sims , Ph. Maya Feller , M. This article was originally published on Aug. By Sadie Trombetta and Jay Polish. Updated: May 24, Originally Published: Aug.

If you experience diarrhea, be sure to consume plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Cramping in the abdominal area may also develop after consuming expired yogurt. Once you have consumed a contaminated food, there is a delay before symptoms of illness become apparent, which may last from hours to days, depending upon how much bacteria and what type of bacteria has been consumed. If you experience abdominal cramping within hours or days of eating expired yogurt, the yogurt is a probable culprit.

If such cramping is severe, worsens or persists, seek medical attention. Vomiting can occur as a result of consuming expired foods, such as yogurt. Extensive vomiting can lead to physical weakness, electrolyte imbalances and dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration can include dizziness, flushed skin, decreased appetite, dark urine and significant fatigue, according to Cleveland Clinic.

To ensure proper health and safety, contact your doctor if vomiting or related symptoms occur after you eat expired yogurt. Mayo Clinic also recommends seeking medical attention if you are unable to keep liquids down, have blood in your vomit or stool, have extreme pain, diarrhea for more than three day or an oral temperature higher than Read more: List of Good Bacteria in Yogurt.

Use-by: This date tells you the day that the peak quality of a product will end. Again, food is usually still edible after this date.

Want more articles like this? Sign up for the Know Your Value weekly newsletter! Jennifer Quinlan, a food microbiologist and associate professor in the Department of Nutrition Sciences at Drexel University, agreed. Cheese: If cheese is past the expiration date, again use the sniff test. But what if you find a spot of mold? Meat : Heath experts agreed that raw meat could potentially have pathogens.

Stick close to the expiration date here. But you can always freeze meat once it hits its expiration date, suggested Quinlan.