I found a bunch of beetles in a bag of old beans but the other identical bag with the same exp date didn’t have any bugs. Is there something else besides bugs that I should worry about if something looks or smells fine?
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Food labeling isn’t always consistent but many countries have a standardized label that will say something like “use by” or “consume by”, and these are usually reserved for foods that may become unsafe to eat in a way that isn’t (necessarily) noticeable. This usually has to do with bacteria that the product may have been contaminated with in small amounts. This is fine to eat as long as you don’t wait too long, as this gives the bacteria a chance to multiply (and poop toxic chemicals into the food). The use-by date indicates the safe period within which the risk of foodborne illness is acceptably low. It doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get sick if you eat it after this date, but these are typically foods you want to be more careful with, especially if you belong to a vulnerable population (e.g. infants, elderly people, people who are pregnant or immunocompromised, etc.).
In short, it is possible for food to spoil and become unsafe to eat without it being noticeable, and so it’s important to be aware of which products this applies to, and often you can tell by the labeling. Products that carry a label that says something like “best before” are usually okay to eat after the printed date, as long as they still look, smell and taste okay – a best-before date is more of a quality indicator.
Products you want to be more careful with include fish & meat (except e.g. dry, cured sausages), dairy (esp. products made from unpasteurized milk), eggs, microgreens and sprouts, and chopped fruit & veg. Whole fruits and vegetables are usually fine to eat if they pass the look, smell and taste test.
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