Food Dates: Freshness vs. Safety
---vocab-5
waste: to throw away something that is still good
label: a tag on a package with information
freshness: being new, not old
safety: being not dangerous
consumers: people who buy things
freeze: to make food very cold for storage
stale: food that is old and dry but not dangerous
mold: a fungus that grows on old food (looks green or black)
---text
People in many countries waste a lot of food. We throw away food that is still good. One big reason is the date label on the package, like "Best if Used By" or "Sell By."
Many consumers think these dates are about safety. They think the food is dangerous after that date. But for most foods, this is not true. The date is usually about freshness. A food company wants you to eat the food when it tastes the best so that you will buy their food again.
Many foods are safe to eat after the date. Dry foods like pasta, rice, and cookies might taste a little stale, but they are not dangerous. Canned food can be safe for many years. For these foods, you can use your senses: your nose and your eyes. If it smells bad or looks bad (like mold), throw it away.
But some foods are different. You must be careful with meat, chicken, and fish. The government recommends eating or freezing meat within a few days of purchase. Ready-to-eat foods like deli meats, pre-cut salads, and soft cheeses can also be a risk. For these foods, the date is more important for safety.
---questions-5
Q: According to the reading, what do many consumers wrongly think date labels mean?
A: They think the food is dangerous after that date [correct]
A: They think the date is when the food was cooked
A: They think the date is for the store workers only
Q: What is the real reason companies usually put "Best if Used By" dates on food?
A: To warn you about poison
A: So you eat the food when it tastes best and buy it again [correct]
A: To make the package look pretty
Q: Is it usually safe to eat dry pasta or rice after the date on the package?
A: Yes, but it might taste a little stale [correct]
A: No, it is very dangerous
A: No, it will have mold
A: Yes, but you must freeze it first
Q: How can you tell if canned food is bad?
A: The date on the can
A: Use your nose (smell) and eyes (look for mold) [correct]
A: Shake the can
A: Ask the cashier
Q: For which foods is the date label VERY important for safety?
A: Cookies and chips
A: Canned soup and beans
A: Meat, chicken, and fish [correct]
A: Rice and pasta
Q: What does the government recommend you do with meat you do not eat quickly?
A: Leave it on the table
A: Freeze it within a few days [correct]
A: Wash it with soap
A: Return it to the store
Q: If food looks or smells bad (like mold), what should you do?
A: Cook it
A: Eat it quickly
A: Throw it away [correct]
A: Give it to a friend
---questions-5
Q: Don't __________ that apple. You can eat it!
A: waste [correct]
A: safety
A: label
A: consumer
Q: I read the __________ on the medicine bottle.
A: freeze
A: label [correct]
A: waste
A: freshness
Q: A seatbelt is important for your __________ in a car.
A: consumer
A: freshness
A: safety [correct]
A: waste
Q: I love the __________ of bread just from the oven.
A: freshness [correct]
A: freeze
A: label
A: safety
Q: If you don't eat the meat, you should __________ it.
A: waste
A: label
A: freeze [correct]
A: consumer
Q: What is a "consumer"?
A: A tag on a package
A: To make food cold
A: A person who buys things [correct]
A: Being not dangerous
Q: Which sentence is correct?
A: Eggs old smell bad.
A: Old eggs smell bad. [correct]
A: Bad eggs smell old.
A: Smell old eggs bad.
Q: What is the definition of "safety"?
A: Being not dangerous [correct]
A: To throw away something
A: Being new, not old
A: To make very cold
Q: Many consumers __________ and then waste a lot of food.
A: buy [correct]
A: sell
A: freeze
A: label
Q: Cookies and chips might taste __________ after their date, but they are safe.
A: spicy
A: stale [correct]
A: fresh
A: dangerous
