Fit Links: Food expiration dates

As fabulous as we at That's Fit think this blog is, the truth is there are hundreds of wonderful blogs on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. So in this feature, Fit Links, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye.

Over the weekend, a reader (Hi Liz!) asked us to look into expiration dates on cereal -- are they still safe to eat after the expiration date? Will they lose taste or texture? I decided to see what other bloggers had to say on the issue.

LifeHacker tackled the issue of food expiration dates a while back, and there are some interesting comments that might be helpful. Nancy over at GovGab explains the difference between "sell by," "best if used before," and "expiration date." And the homecooking section at About.com has some tips for understanding when foods are still safe to eat, and when they should be tossed.

And finally, to answer Liz's question: CJC says that dry cereals are in the "best if used by" category. If the box is unopened, then the food inside should still be safe to eat up to six months after the date (sometimes even years), though there's no guarantee that it will be at its top quality. However, those dates only apply to unopened packaging. Once a box is opened, it starts to deteriorate in flavor, taste, and texture.

Got a blog you'd like to see featured on Fit Links? Leave us a note in comments!