Philadelphia Cream Cheese and Expiry Dates

Yesterday I was in the local grocery store, and where they usually stack my favourite light double tubs of Phillly, they only had three pks left. I looked at them and noticed they were on 50% clearance, having expired March 2 (date was march 14th).

Tickling my fancy, I took it and when at the cash asked the clerk. This lady ~40-50s told me that I would be okay to eat this even a month afterwards. She told me that back in the day, they used to sell this kinda stuff WITHOUT expiry dates. She also said that in fact other than milk, she never pays any attention to these kind of expiry dates on her dairy items, and has never had any problems. Contrary to your initilal preconceptions-she wasn't this ogre of an old bag, rather a healthy looking active (heck she was working standing up wasn't she? lol) woman.

Lastly, she said if they are bad, just bringem back for a refund...which as we all know in rfd...was the keyword to have me sold .

So...what's the scoop? I had some this morning, and though my mind was telling me (as I bit into an Eggo lathered in Philly) it was spoiled, it actually was fine.

Eggo with cream cheese!?!?! Never heard of such a thing, try it on a toasted bagel.

If it tastes fine, then it's fine. You'll know when it goes bad.

Can't believe you bought 3 packages of double tubs.. whatever a double tub is, it sounds like a lot! I'd definitely suggest putting the other 2 in the freezer for a later date.

It's just the 300mL or 400mL tubs., packaged in pairs.

I only bought one pk, not THREE lol.

I know this is gross but .. I got blueberry flavoured cream cheese. Its expired in May 2005 but it has no sour smell or taste. General rule with cheeses.. If you keep it sealed properly, it lasts for a looooong time. Its when you leave it exposed to air and moisture is when u get the little green fuzzies.

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

Yesterday I was in the local grocery store, and where they usually stack my favourite light double tubs of Phillly, they only had three pks left. I looked at them and noticed they were on 50% clearance, having expired March 2 (date was march 14th).

Tickling my fancy, I took it and when at the cash asked the clerk. This lady ~40-50s told me that I would be okay to eat this even a month afterwards. She told me that back in the day, they used to sell this kinda stuff WITHOUT expiry dates. She also said that in fact other than milk, she never pays any attention to these kind of expiry dates on her dairy items, and has never had any problems. Contrary to your initilal preconceptions-she wasn't this ogre of an old bag, rather a healthy looking active (heck she was working standing up wasn't she? lol) woman.

Lastly, she said if they are bad, just bringem back for a refund...which as we all know in rfd...was the keyword to have me sold .

So...what's the scoop? I had some this morning, and though my mind was telling me (as I bit into an Eggo lathered in Philly) it was spoiled, it actually was fine.

Originally Posted by CodecX81

I know this is gross but .. I got blueberry flavoured cream cheese. Its expired in May 2005 but it has no sour smell or taste. General rule with cheeses.. If you keep it sealed properly, it lasts for a looooong time. Its when you leave it exposed to air and moisture is when u get the little green fuzzies.

That is freakin' revolting. Was it opened or unopened

You may want to clarify that the date was not "expiry" but a "best before" date.

Best before if pretty self explanatory. You can still eat it after that date, just might not be at it's best.

Originally Posted by alkaseltzer01

You may want to clarify that the date was not "expiry" but a "best before" date. Best before if pretty self explanatory. You can still eat it after that date, just might not be at it's best.

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

That is freakin' revolting. Was it opened or unopened

Its whatever the number is on the bottom of the container It does not specify "best before". So I assume it was expiry :p But you very well could be correct. Nonetheless, its almost a year old . haha

oh its opened. about half eaten. I only like it now and then.

You don't know revolting Wanna know revolting?

my favorite cheese. Ricotte piquant--product of Italy.


How to make it:

Buy store bought ricotta. keep it refrigerated until it expires. A week after its past the due date, take it out and put it in a stainless steel container, add a half a teaspoon of salt and stir it using a colourless (preferrably stainless steel) spoon, every day, once a day for 6 months. This project is best left to cure in an outside gardening shed, due to the smell.

When its not being stirred, cover it with wax paper to keep from getting foreign substances (i.e. bugs) in it.

You can actually keep doing this for longer than 6 months, but lemme tell ya. The taste is heavenly, the smell is unbearable. The longer you cure it, the worse the smell and potent the taste.

After 6 months, its no longer curdy, its creamy like cream cheese, with a bite similiar to blue cheese, but with the lightness of ricotta. The reason why you use a colourless device to stir is due to the fact that it takes on any bit of colour you add.

Since its made in room temperature, its able to be kept in room temperature. In fact, chilling the cheese will cause it to lose flavour. Its great in sandwiches, burgers or on toast with a slice of tomato. (breakfast, yum!)

if properly sealed, you'll never have the smell. But keep it left open for an hour and your entire house will smell like feet! (Stinky Tofu!)

Originally Posted by alkaseltzer01

You may want to clarify that the date was not "expiry" but a "best before" date.

Best before if pretty self explanatory. You can still eat it after that date, just might not be at it's best.

Good point., working with pharmaceuticals and such I'm keen on the dates...I didn't notice any writing beside the date saying BB, or Expiry..so I just assumed it was the latter. Tonight I'll clarify.

In the mean time, how about laying it on us-that is., the implications of one or the other. If it's best before....how much after that date can it still be safely eaten?

I may be wrong, but I think if it doesn't say "Expiry Date:" or "Best Before:" then you can presume that was when the product was made.

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

Good point., working with pharmaceuticals and such I'm keen on the dates...I didn't notice any writing beside the date saying BB, or Expiry..so I just assumed it was the latter. Tonight I'll clarify.

In the mean time, how about laying it on us-that is., the implications of one or the other. If it's best before....how much after that date can it still be safely eaten?

I use human sense. Smell it, taste a little. You'll know if its immediately off. Pharmaceuticals should never be taken after their proposed date

Once I made instant pudding with milk that was a day after its date, figuring it'd be okay.

The pudding burned the back of my throat..it was the worst.

Originally Posted by bubble.tea

Good point., working with pharmaceuticals and such I'm keen on the dates...I didn't notice any writing beside the date saying BB, or Expiry..so I just assumed it was the latter. Tonight I'll clarify.

In the mean time, how about laying it on us-that is., the implications of one or the other. If it's best before....how much after that date can it still be safely eaten?

I don't think there is a specific date range that one can say it can be safely eaten. It's really consumer's beware. There are some consumer responsibility when buying something you know may or may not be at its best. There was a clip on Global television and they interviewed an inspector. Basically, there's no regulation that make it illegal to sale food past it's "best before" date.

It's like in your pharmaceutical world, the active medicinal ingredient may degrade or the dose may not be what's stated after the date, but it doesn't necessarily mean that it won't perform its intended function.

Here's a link for some explanation on dates on food.
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/...ts/lifee.shtml

"best before" is good a rule to shop by, but as a friend says "it is not bad after..." I probably would have bought them too, but not for just 50% off! would have asked for a bigger discount (>75%). I have noticed that these dates have become alot more common in the last say 5 years, and my theory about the reason is that companies realized that people will buy more if there is a date on it that suggests that is it bad afterwards... The cost of replacing items that actually do go bad before the expiry date is much smaller than the extra profit made by the consumer buy more often to stay ahead of the best-before date.

Anyways, I agree the best way is to taste it, and smell it, if is seems fine it probably is! =)