Food past its use by date

[linedancer16]

Would you eat something today which had a use by date of Feb 25th? I was going to have some M&S Leek and potato soup at lunch time- the fresh type in a plastic pot- but I mustnt have checked the date before I put it in the fridge and it was to be used by the date above. I decided to have something else but would anyone else have eaten it? I dont mind 1 or 2 days over but 5? It was a use by date, not best before which is a different matter, I know!

[mccfluff]

if it smelt funny then no. but i'd probably heat it and try it

[237SJ]

After sniffing it to make sure it`s OK, yes if it`s of vegetable origin. If it was a meat product I wouldn`t.

[Nosha123]

ive eaten chicken soup a week out of date and it was fine...
as long as it smells Ok I'd try it!

[Ratty2E]

I agree with MccFluff if it smelt OK then I would give it ago. I hate throwing food away.

[slinky.kate]

i just used burn cream that was best before 04/2001

[linedancer16]

I heated a bit of it to taste and it seemed ok but thought I'd get a second opinion!

[shoota]

If it looked and smelt OK why not? I think these dates are ultra cautious 'just in case'. Especially on tinned goods.

[chi-chi66]

Yes I would have, I tend to buy things then forget about them. Up to a week.

[chaptazbru]

I would have smelt it first, that's usually a good indicator. I don't think five days is too bad if it's been in the fridge.

[linedancer16]

Right ok! I will try it this evening instead as I hate throwing food away as well and it did seem fine. They do seem to be very careful with dates on food to cover themselves. Thanks everybody!

[dzug2]

I'd eat it. Particularly as it's vegetable. And as long as it's been stored correctly.

If you heat it up properly - perhaps a bit more than normal - I'm sure you'll kill any nasties that have developed in it

[linedancer16]

Just to say I had the soup last night and have survived to tell the tale!

[rockyracoon]

I'm still using double cream with 25th Feb date, it tastes absolutely fine.

[Ann]

Anything other than chicken I would try - yoghurt we have eaten 3 WEEKS over the date and its just fine! I'm always a bit wary of meat but soup is fine, especially veg ones.

[grasscarp]

I am a great ignorer of dates on things. Yogurt is still good even a couple of months out of date. I rely on my nose and I cant ever remember becoming ill due to anything I have eaten after the stamped on date. Regarding old food in general, the only thing to beware of is cooked rice beyond a day or so, as it can develop something awful - bacillus serus (may not have spelt this right).

[ummmm]

No, I wouldn't.

[vodkancoke]

I don't touch anything past it's use-by date.

[ummmm]

I wouldn't enjoy it....and be looking for a funny taste.

[linedancer16]

I dont usually ignore use by dates I must admit but I was annoyed with myself for not noticing it. I ate it and it tasted fine but not something I would do regularly!