: supermarkets sell tons of stuff, especially food, but I’m pretty sure that not all the food is bought before it expires, so what do they do with possibly tones of expired food?

Question

: supermarkets sell tons of stuff, especially food, but I’m pretty sure that not all the food is bought before it expires, so what do they do with possibly tones of expired food?

In: Other

Answer 1

I volunteer at a food bank and we get a lot of food from local groceries. Fresh food (fruits, veggies, bread) we estimate just by looking. We usually receive those that look a little different, but are still completely okay to be consumed. We donate leftover bread to the local farms. Dairy is usually donated 1/2 days before expiring and given out immediately. Meat needs to be frozen on the expiration date latest, and can then still be given out up until two months later. Most dry foods (pasta, herbs, crisps, crackers, cereals) and things like soup & peanut butter can be given out until 1 year after the expiration date. So even though I believe a lot of food is wasted in groceries, some may still be consumed safely up until one year after the expiring date.