Is It Fresh? Many products now have open dating, which provides information on freshness in several ways: • the pull-by or sell-by date tells you when the product should be sold or taken off the shelves by the grocery store. ⚫ best used by date is typically found on bakery goods and packaged cereals-it's the last day the product can be expected to be at its peak quality. • expiration or use by date, usually on refrigerated products, is the last date the food should be used. • pack date is the date the food was processed or packaged and is usually found on foods like canned goods that have a long shelf life. Be sure not to buy any bulging or leaking cans. The food is unsafe. These dates tell you how long you can store and use the product. This will be helpful if you can't shop often. Food Shopping, Whether you are age 7 or 70, you need a variety of foods from each of the food groups. There are many choices available in today's typical supermarket. Here are some food choices that will help you get the variety you need while watching your fat, cholesterol, and sodium intake. Try a few the next time you shop. New on the MarketLower Fat, Lower Low-calorie sweeteners are widely used to sweeten soft drinks, fruit punches, puddings, gelatin desserts, yogurts, frozen dairy desserts, Sodium, Lower Sugar and many other foods. Low-calorie, low Products Many new foods are available to help you choose a diet that is low in fat, sugars, and sodium. One no longer has to go to the dietetic section of the supermarket to find fruits canned in juice instead of heavy syrup, canned vegetables with no salt added, and soups with reduced sodium content. Even frozen dinners come in varieties that are low in fat and sodium. Some manufacturers also have reformulated their baked products and frozen dairy desserts to produce "ice creams", cookies, cakes, and pastries that are nearly fat and cholesterol free. cholesterol fat substitutes processed from egg white and skim milk proteins are used in gourmet-style frozen dairy desserts and may be used in other cold products, such as salad dressings, sour cream, and cheese spreads. Food scientists are developing other heat-stable substances that may partially substitute for fat in frying. Are fat and sugar substitutes safe? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve food additives and novel ingredients such as fat and sugar substitutes before they can be used in foods. If you have questions about the safety of a food additive or ingredient, contact the FDA Consumer Affairs Office on the resource list included in this bulletin. As always, moderation in use of these products is the best advice. It is not necessary to use products containing fat or sugar substitutes to have a healthy diet. |