Expiration Dates

Expiration dates are important at home and on some jobs. Stockers at grocery stores and drug stores often sort out expired products as they are facing the shelves. Food safety is also an important life skill.

Goals:

Look at a date and tell whether it is expired.

Compare the current date with a given date and tell how they are related (past or future).

Explain how to tell whether food should be thrown away.

Lesson:

Using the slides provided:

• -Use our senses to tell whether food has spoiled. How does it look, smell, feel and taste? Specific examples include fruits, meat, milk, bread and crackers.
• -Discuss food storage and how that can impact the expiration date. The food has to be stored at the right temperature. What if the power goes out?
• -Guided practice: Tell whether a date is in the past or future.

Worksheet provided: Tell whether an expiration date means that the food has expired or whether it is okay to use. (An answer key is not provided because answers will vary depending on today's date.)

Extension Activity: Download the free Smart Steps Mobile app and practice the decision tree called "Expiration Dates".