Foods You Should Never Eat Past Their Expiry Date

1. Raw Eggs
It shouldn’t surprise you that a vast majority of nasty bouts of food borne illnesses are
contracted after a brush with eggs. That’s why eating from that carton of eggs, even a few days past the “best before” date can be risky
business, particularly if you consume them raw.

2. Deli Meat
We hear so many news stories about E. coli and Listeria in processed deli meats. These bacteria are prevalent in packaged meats of this kind and even the sliced variety you ask your butcher to slice off for you at the grocery store. As a general rule, deli meats are best consumed within the week they are purchased.

3. Mixed Greens
Mixed greens (i.e., baby spinach, arugula, and other leafy veggies) don’t keep so well after their due date. So if the slimy coating and wilted visage doesn’t turn you off, you should consider the bacteria and pathogens growing on your sandwich if those greens on top made contact with contaminated water or soil during harvesting or processing.

4. Alfalfa Sprouts
 I love alfalfa sprouts, but if I buy them for home, I know that using them quickly is vital to my health. More so than leafy greens, sprouts spoil and become rife with bacteria microbes quickly—especially if you accidentally leave them out overnight.

5. Oysters
Many people wouldn’t slurp an oyster as is.
However, oysters gone bad are not only particularly foul smelling and slimy—they can cause a seriously fatal bloodstream infection known as V. vulnificus bacteria if consumed past expiry.

6. Shrimp
Like oysters, raw or even frozen shellfish of any kind is prone to bacterial contamination right from the moment it’s removed from the ocean.  So be especially concerned with fresh or frozen shrimp as far as storage, handling, and consuming before its due date.
 
7. Raw Ground Beef
Do you know where E. coli originates? In the
case of animal proteins, like ground beef, the bacteria lingers in the intestines of cattle and can make human consumers very ill if the meat isn’t processed or handled properly. Always be sure to consume ground beef prior to expiry and cook it completely to avoid food poisoning.

8. Fresh Berries
It isn’t hard to differentiate expired raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries from fresh, plump versions. Spoiled berries lose their shape and break down quickly, developing a slimy, watery surface that’s prone to Cyclospora, a fecal food bacterial poisoning.

9. Soft Cheese
With hard cheeses, like cheddar, it’s often safe to cut off the outer edge of mold and consume a fresh piece. However, softer cheeses, like brie, are not to lucky to escape bacterial Listeria monocytogenes growth.

10. Chicken
We’ve all heard the horror stories of consuming spoiled chicken or undercooked chicken. It’s particularly important to consume chicken prior to expiry, and if you should freeze a package of chicken bosoms to extend the life, be sure to thaw, cook thoroughly, and eat all of the meat to avoid E. coli food poisoning.