What should be done with expired food products?

Expired food products should be discarded to prevent potential foodborne illness. Consuming expired food, even if cooked thoroughly, poses significant health risks because harmful bacteria or toxins could still be present. Safety should always be the top priority when it comes to food handling, and expired food items may no longer be safe for consumption due to degradation or contamination that occurs over time.

Feeding expired food to animals is also not advisable as it may harm the animals or cause health issues. Additionally, donating expired food products is not a viable option, as food banks and charities typically only accept items that are within their expiration dates to ensure the safety of those consuming the donated food. Therefore, the most responsible course of action is to properly discard expired items to maintain a safe food handling environment.