It is wasteful, the expiration date is very conservative. You can push it 20% or more for sealed, correctly stored items. Just check for signs of rot or mold. Food waste is a serious problem in first and second world countries.
Depends on a lot of factors. When I consider grocery prices in the Czech Republic, our food safety standards, sick leave conditions and healthcare costs, I’d say I might get food poisoning 0-2 times in my life for $25 each while saving at least $30 per year.
The risk is worth it, I will probably never get food poisoning (as long as I’m careful when foraging) and I’m healthy overall so my body would take it well. I can’t imagine store-bought food pushed to less than +50% of its shelf life with no signs of decay will do permanent harm. I guess a week off work can be a problem if you’re in America? I feed old food to chickens instead if it goes stale or unappetizing so I never really waste any anyway.
It is wasteful, the expiration date is very conservative. You can push it 20% or more for sealed, correctly stored items. Just check for signs of rot or mold. Food waste is a serious problem in first and second world countries.
Which is cheaper — composting food after its expiration date, or the copay at the doctors office when you get food poisoning?
Depends on a lot of factors. When I consider grocery prices in the Czech Republic, our food safety standards, sick leave conditions and healthcare costs, I’d say I might get food poisoning 0-2 times in my life for $25 each while saving at least $30 per year.
You go to the doctor for food poisoning? What are they gonna do besides tell you that you have food poisoning and send you home?
No thanks.
The risk is worth it, I will probably never get food poisoning (as long as I’m careful when foraging) and I’m healthy overall so my body would take it well. I can’t imagine store-bought food pushed to less than +50% of its shelf life with no signs of decay will do permanent harm. I guess a week off work can be a problem if you’re in America? I feed old food to chickens instead if it goes stale or unappetizing so I never really waste any anyway.
I’m not discouraging you or any one else to be more flexible about them, I’m just saying I have my limitations on the matter.