• Sunshine Expiration Date Code
• Expiration Date On Cheez It
• Do Cheez Its Expire
• Recipes Using Cheez Its

Cheez-it has been around for decades. The salty cheesy crackers are popular with kids and adults alike. Originally sold by an independent company call Sunshine, Cheez-it has been part of the Kellogg's lineup for the last 10 years. And they're made with 100% REAL cheese If you're laughing, don't. There actually is such a thing as fake cheese. Popular Kellogg’s products that we carry (both in our vending machines and sold by the case) include Cheez-Its, Famous Amos cookies, Nutrigrain cereal bars, Pop Tarts, and a variety of cereals (Apple Jacks, Cocoa Krispies, Corn Pops, Froot Loops, Frosted Flakes, Frosted Mini Wheats, Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, and Special K).

I grew up in a house where it was completely normal to slice the green fuzz off a block of cheese, then continue making your sandwich with it. But when I went to college, several of my friends found my nonchalance about expiration dates a bit alarming. Despite what people may think, however, there are foods you can eat past the expiration dates on their labels.

Expiration dates aren't always accurate representations of a food's shelf life, and those labels have been linked to a massive amount of food waste every year. “Household food waste accounts for 40% of all food waste in the U.S., and we estimate that 20% of household food waste is due to confusion over date labels,” JoAnne Berkenkamp, Natural Resources Defense Council senior advocate, told The Wall Street Journal in 2019. With over 40 million Americans potentially facing hunger, according to the USDA, it's startling to think that so much food is getting thrown away due to misinformation. Of course you don't want to eat something that's unsafe or could make you sick, but you can save money and reduce waste if you stop living by the date you see stamped on your yogurt cartons.

Most people don't understand expiration dates or what they really mean. The common misconception is that once the sell-by date on an item has passed, the food becomes inedible, but that isn't always the case. Food products are actually labeled with expiration dates to give consumers information about the food's freshness. In other words, most foods don't 'go bad' or become unhealthy to eat when they've reached their sell-by dates, but they will start to lose quality in taste.

That being said, there are exceptions: Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, a registered dietician and nutritionist based in Brooklyn, tells Bustle, 'As a rule of thumb, anyone with a compromised immune system should not eat food after the best by dates especially if it is visibly spoiled or foul-smelling.' Additionally, she advises against ever eating meat, poultry, or seafood past its expiration date.

When it comes to eating other foods that are expired according to their labels, though, the most important thing to do is use your common sense. If an item smells terrible or has deep cuts and holes, Feller suggests composting it instead of taking a chance on eating it. The same goes for if the item's texture, consistency, or color has changed. Basically, never consume something you're unsure of. Still, there are plenty of foods that are safe long after their sell-by dates, as long as they don't display any of those signs.

Maybe you aren't the type to eat around the mold, but here are 10 things you can safely eat past their expiration dates, assuming they look and smell normal:

1. Cheese

If you think about how cheese is made and aged, you might be more apt to believe it's the kind of food that doesn't always go bad after its expiration date. Even if there is a little mold growing, consuming 'expired' cheese can be safe — as long as you cut off the mold and it still smells alright. For example, New York cheesemonger Rachel Freier told Thrillist that semi-hard and semi-soft cheeses can stay good two to four weeks past the expiration date. However, she suggests being a little more careful with soft cheeses that hold greater amounts of moisture.

2. Cereal

While it may begin to get a little stale, cereal has a true shelf life long beyond its printed expiration date. Like many foods, if it is stored properly — in this case, in a cool, dry place — cereal can last months after the sell-by date. Dietician and author Sharon Palmer, RDN, told TODAY Food in 2018 that cereals with more fat content (think nuts and oils) could go bad more quickly, though. In other words, you might want to try some before pouring yourself a whole bowl if it's expired.

3. Pasta

Although dry pasta already has a one-to-two-year shelf life, it can actually last much longer than that, because it doesn't contain any water. As long as it is stored in a cool, dry place, dried pasta can actually last up to three years, according to the Food Network. Fresh pasta, on the other hand, does contain water and spoils more easily, so you should do a smell test.

4. Bread

It might get stale, but bread past its expiration date can be safely eaten. If the bread smells sour or spoiled, though, definitely don't eat it. That being said, bread that's turned a little stale and crunchy makes excellent French toast and croutons, so don't toss it out because it's 'too old.'

5. Yogurt

Say goodbye to days of throwing out your half-eaten tub of yogurt, because this is another dairy product you can eat after its package labels it 'expired.' Open yogurt will spoil sooner than unopened yogurt, but sealed yogurt will usually last one to two weeks past the sell-by date. “I am comfortable eating yogurt 1-2 weeks past date as long as it doesn’t smell,” Dr. Jennifer Quinlan, food microbiologist and associate professor in the Department of Nutrition Sciences at Drexel University, told NBC News in 2018. When it comes to yogurt, you just have to ask: Does it smell right? Is there mold in it? If not, then feel free to proceed with making your smoothie.

6. Chips

Like bread, potato chips may get stale past their expiration date, but they are still perfectly safe to eat. If they are in an open bag, they'll be alright until you decide the texture is too much to handle, but if the bag is sealed, it can still be good months later ... as if you'd have an uneaten bag of chips laying around for that long.

7. Chocolate

You know that white film that forms on old chocolate? It's not mold. It's what's called 'chocolate bloom' — either of the fat or sugar variety — and it can be safe to eat. If chocolate is stored in a cool place (70 degrees or below), it will outlast its sell-by date. But as with chips, what are the chances you'll have chocolate for more than, like, five minutes?

8. Condiments

I used to loathe spending so much money on condiments like ketchup, mayo, and jam, because I could never seem to use it all before it expired. That changed when I found out that many condiments, including salad dressing, are consumable after their sell-by dates. 'If you are healthy and don't have a sensitive stomach, you may be able to tolerate ketchup beyond the best by date,' Feller says.

9. Frozen Food

If you don't mind freezer burn, then frozen foods can be eaten long after their expiration dates. Freezing food is the easiest way to extend its shelf life, whether it be vegetables or pastries. Go ahead and stock up on frozen pizza. You know you want to.

10. Prepackaged Produce

A little bruised cucumber or wilted lettuce shouldn't hurt you (as long as it smells fine), and neither should bagged salad eaten past its expiration date. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, it's simple: If it's rotten, don't eat it. And if it's just a little wilted, you could always cook it instead.

Experts:

Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN, registered dietician and nutritionist based in Brooklyn

Short answer

Cheez-Its are incredibly bad for you and should be avoided. Like many other processed snacks, they can have very negative long-term consequences.

Sunshine Expiration Date Code

Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.

Category 'A'

Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).

Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.

Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.

It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.

Category 'B'

Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.

Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.

More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.

The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.

Category 'C'

Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.

A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.

More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.

Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.

Category 'D'

Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.

Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.

Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.

Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.

Category 'F'

Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.

Category 'N'

'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.

Long answer

While not as bad for you as some other quick-fix snacks, Cheez-Its are still not to be considered a healthy choice by any stretch of the imagination. First is the fact that a box of Cheez-Its is virtually devoid of any nutritional benefits, containing only trace amounts of any essential vitamins and minerals. Cheez-Its also contain little to no fiber and protein. One serving is equivalent to 27 crackers. In just that one serving, there are 150 calories, 8 grams of fat (2 grams from saturated fat), and 230 mg of sodium. However, Cheez-Its are a snack - and quite often a comfort food. Do you eat just one serving of Cheeze-Its (more or less a handful)? It's probably best to think in terms of consuming half a box. Considering that there are 9 servings per box, we will multiply the values by 4.5 to get 675 calories, 36 grams of fat (9 grams saturated fat), and 1,035 mg of sodium. This means that just half a box of Cheez-Its contains nearly half of the RDA for calories and sodium. Furthermore, 9 grams of saturated fat amounts to nearly 70% of the daily limit. Eating a full box will put you over that limit.

There are other dangers associated with Cheez-Its as well. For one, Cheez-Its contain a chemical known as TBHQ, or tertiary butylhydryoquinone. A petroleum derivative used to help make the food last longer, the FDA says it cannot exceed 0.02% of the fat and oil content and that death has been known to occur from just 5 grams of ingestion. Furthermore, having just 1 gram of TBHQ can cause side effects including dizziness, nausea, and delirium. Additionally, Cheez-Its contain MSG. This, combined with its high sodium content, can induce overeating and contribute towards weight gain, putting you at risk for diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Cheez-Its do not have any nutritional value whatsoever. Any benefit (such as good flavor) is purely subjective. It is best to avoid this food completely or eat only once in a blue moon.

Possible short-term side effects

• nausea
• headache
• dizziness
• delirium

Possible long-term side effects

• weight gain
• heart disease
• diabetes
• stroke

Expiration Date On Cheez It

Ingredients to be aware of

Healthier alternatives (what is this?)

Suggest improvement or correction to this article
Written by Jeff Volling | 01-01-2016

Do Cheez Its Expire

01-01-2016
Written by Jeff Volling
Suggest improvement or correction

Recipes Using Cheez Its