To Purchase The Freshest Food Available

By Ethel Tiersky

Jun 09, 2009
  • Don’t buy items near or past the “use by” or “sell by” date. Look on the back of the shelf or further down in the bin to find an item with a later date. (Retailers regularly rotate stock to sell the oldest food first.)
  • When you shop in a hurry and don’t check package dates, save your receipt. Check the dates at home; return anything that’s expired.
  • If the packaged meat, poultry, or fish is about to expire, speak up. Ask the butcher if there’s anything fresher in the back.
  • When buying at the meat or fish counter, ask questions such as these: “Which fish just came in?” or “Can I use this ground beef tomorrow? Will it still be good?”
  • Don’t buy large quantities if you can’t use them relatively soon. You may wind up eating less-than-fresh items, throwing out expired items, or eating the same item more often than you’d like. Moreover, you’d cluttered up your fridge, freezer, or pantry with a big supply of the same item.
  • Check out farmer’s markets in your area. The produce may be fresher and cheaper, too.
 
 

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