What's the oldest, most out-of-date food item in your pantry?
Like many, Glen Fredericks of Adamstown Heights, sorted and organised his food pantry when grocery trips were a problem, with supplies stretched.
"I found a caterers pack of gluten free chicken gravy mix in the cupboard," Glen revealed.
"Not sure how or why I got it, as none of us suffer from a gluten intolerance."
The best before date is August 10, 2018.
"I cracked it open to check if it was good. It smelt OK. Apparently it will make 20 litres. Looks like I'll be subsiding on chicken gravy soup in an apocalyptic world."
Use By V Best Before
Glen tells us that he checked out the Food Standards Australia website for advice on the difference between a "use-by date" and a "best before date".
"Use-by dates indicate when a product may no longer be safe to eat. Foods should not be eaten after the use-by date and can't legally be sold after this date because they may pose a health or safety risk," Glen said.
"Best before dates are an indication of quality rather than safety. You can still eat foods for a while after the best before date as they should be safe, but they may have lost some quality. Shops can still sell them, but will often do so at a discounted price."
The website added that the only food that can have a different "date mark" is bread, which can be "labelled with a baked-on or baked-for date if its shelf life is less than seven days".
"Foods that have a shelf life of two years or longer, e.g. some canned foods, do not need to be labelled with a best before date."
Delivering the Goods
This from Tony Davis, of the Elermore Glen over 55s village at Elermore Vale: "Like some of your other older readers, I have been reading the Herald for many years".
"When I came to this village, I made sure I had my paper delivered. This was done really well."
The delivery man always managed to "land my paper within a few feet of my front door".
One morning Tony was up early. He decided to say g'day to his delivery man and thank him for his stellar service.
"Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I knew him from a long time ago," he said.
"We both had a good laugh."
The delivery man said: "Tony, I'm so glad that I'm appreciated, but move back inside, mate. I'm about to throw this Herald, you have no shoes on and it is Saturday!
"This Herald is a heavy one, mate, and if it hits your uncovered feet it may hurt."
Blue Dog
ABC newsreader Juanita Phillips tweeted this: "Came home from work to find the Girl Teen has dyed the dog blue. I am. Officially. Frickin. Over. It. #Isolation".
- topics@newcastleherald.com.au
