The long and short of expiry dates

First, read this letter from a concerned consumer:

Dear Consumerline,

I read your article regarding consumer protection and would like to contribute my little share on the matter.

I go to the supermarket every weekend for our family’s food requirements. I usually look at the expiry date markings on products before buying anything. However, many times, I am confused by the markings and how to interpret them. Take this, for instance:

Best before 09-12-05

Best before 12-09-05

The former, I presume to be Sept. 12, 2005, if the products are made locally. The latter, I presume, is the same date, if the products are imported. However, not all consumers are aware of this difference and I believe some even end up buying expired products because some unscrupulous supermarket owners display expired or nearly expired products in their bargain section with discounts of up to 50 percent.

I hope legislation can be pushed towards the standardization of expiry date markings and that the consuming public is properly informed thereof.

– Gerry Santos

When we do our groceries, it always pays to read the expiry dates on products. Nutrition and Health Pages shares these food-savvy tips: "Milk and meat-based products have significantly shorter shelf life than vegetable-based products. Dry packages have significantly shorter shelf life than moist packages."

Of course, never buy foodstuff with a label that’s written in a language you don’t understand, no matter how tempting. Remember: What you don’t know could harm you.

It’s in the can – "it" refers to the anaerobic bacteria to which canned food is particularly vulnerable. So, everytime you open a can of foodstuff, check if it emits bubbles. If it does, don’t think twice about throwing it away. Check, too, if the can appears unusually "stuffy" (because of the pressure of the gasses produced inside by the bacteria).

Gracefoods.com dishes out these safety tips when buying and using canned foods:

• Make sure you examine canned foods properly. Do not buy or use canned products if the can is dented, bulging, leaking or badly rusted.

• Check for expiry dates on the can and do not purchase or use canned products if the expiry date has lapsed.

• If there is no expiry date, use a permanent marker to put the date of purchase on your canned products. Most canned foods can last one to two years if properly stored. Rotate canned products in your cupboard so that you use earlier products bought first. Remember the rule "First in, first out."

• Once canned food has been opened, try to consume it as soon as possible. If there are leftovers, store them in a glass or plastic covered container in the refrigerator for a day or so if possible.

• As canned foods have already been cooked, care should be taken not to overcook them. They should only be lightly heated, if necessary.

• Canned foods are usually packed in the liquid in which they are cooked. This liquid also contains nutrients, so try to use it where possible rather than draining.

Next time you find yourself walking down the aisle of a supermarket, remember to stop, look, and read.

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Neem it, they have it!

Get rid of the insecticide that you use to get rid of those pesky pests and insects. It may do more harm to your health and the environment, so warns environmentalist Gene Romero.

Now comes an environment-friendly, three-in-one natural insecticide from the neem tree. Its name is Bioneem, an insecticide/deodorizer/disinfectant rolled into one. This product earned for its prolific inventor Ma. Carlita Rex-Doran, who first popularized the gugo shampoo, a silver medal at the 25E Salon International Des Inventions in Geneva, Switzerland in 1997. Unlike chemical-based insect sprays available on the market today, Bioneem is non-toxic, biodegradable, and perfectly safe for humans and animals as well as to exposed food.

Neem it, Bioneem can probably do it. It is effective against cockroaches, mosquitoes, termites, houseflies, fleas, ants, and other insects. It’s an effective sanitizing agent for the kitchen, comfort rooms, floors, and practically everything that needs deodorizing.

Likewise, Romero subjects us to a brief "lifestyle check": "Check your tool cabinet that stores chemicals for household pest control, garden grooming, and pet care – 1) What’s your brand? 2) Components? 3) Warnings? 4) Eco label? Do these products tell you they are 100 percent toxin-free? Non-hazardous? Eco-friendly? If your answer to all three questions is yes, then you are an eco-friendly user.

Go natural! Make the earth an environment-friendly place to live in.

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We’d love to hear from you. E-mail us at ching_alano@yahoo.com.