Is it safe to eat expired yogurt?
In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “Is it safe to eat expired yogurt?” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not it is safe to eat expired yogurt. Moreover, we are going to discuss the health implications of eating spoiled yogurt.
So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.
Is it safe to eat expired yogurt?
No, it is not safe to eat expired yogurt way past its expiration date and you can smell foul in that yogurt. It doesn’t necessarily mean that yogurt goes bad right away after the “best before” date because the “best by” or “best before” date on the yogurt package pertains to quality rather than safety.
The best quality and flavor of yogurt are available up to this date, but you can still use yogurt that has passed this date as long as it was stored properly, there are no leaks in the packaging, and there are no signs of spoiling.
You must use your discretion (you should do a sensory evaluation of yogurt) as to whether you will consume properly stored yogurt that has passed its best-by date (stored at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the fridge the entire time).
Yogurt is still safe to eat if it is somewhere between two weeks past the best-by date, according to Eat By Date.
How should yogurt be assessed?
You can tell if your yogurt has spoiled by a few distinct signs. The yogurt’s appearance, color, texture, and smell can all be used to detect whether it has gone bad.
- The best course of action is to throw away the yogurt if you find mold or organic growth on it (a rare occurrence). As a result, if you notice mold on your yogurt, you should discard the entire container right away since mycotoxins can spread throughout the yogurt and result in several health issues, such as the disturbance of your gut bacteria and food poisoning if you consume it.
Additionally, it may weaken your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to illnesses and attacks from pathogenic microorganisms.
- When yogurt starts to ferment after going bad, the bacteria start to die. As soon as the fermentation process starts, the bacteria begin to create gas, which is then trapped in the yogurt. The liquid portion of the yogurt is forced out of the container by the gas’s expansion. This results in the formation of foam.
- If your yogurt has become lumpy or curdled, or if a watery layer has developed on top of the remaining yogurt, it has beyond its best-by date.
- When sniffing your yogurt, if you detect anything sour or unpleasant, it’s advisable to toss it because it’s probably gone bad.
- If the yogurt passes the smell and visual checks, you can taste it. When you take a small sip of yogurt, if you taste something strongly sour, the yogurt has probably spoiled.
How can consuming spoiled yogurt affect your health?
Food poisoning, which manifests as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, can be contracted from consuming spoiled yogurt. To prevent yourself from such a circumstance, it is, therefore, better to discard such yogurt.
- The body’s response to an undesirable agent entering is diarrhea. So, eating spoiled yogurt usually results in diarrhea.
- Abdominal pain is a sign of food poisoning following consumption of spoiled yogurt. Following the consumption of bad yogurt, cramps and soreness in the abdomen may also ensue.
- The body’s natural defense to get rid of the undesirable toxic item that has been ingested is nausea and vomiting, which occur if you consume bad yogurt. Furthermore, continual vomiting can cause an electrolyte imbalance in the body, which can worsen dehydration, make you feel lightheaded, cause your skin to flush, and make you weak.
- Fever, your body’s natural defense mechanism and a sign that something is wrong with it might result from ingesting spoiled yogurt.
Therefore, if you mistakenly ate contaminated yogurt and are currently experiencing vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours, you should seek medical attention. In addition, you should drink a lot of water to make up for the water loss you are experiencing as a result of vomiting and diarrhea.
What are the health benefits of yogurt?
- Probiotic yogurt has been linked to various advantages for digestive health. Regular consumption of yogurt with live, active cultures may reduce the frequency of diarrhea brought on by antibiotic use by balancing the gut flora.
- Dairy products have long been thought to prevent osteoporosis. Due to its high calcium and protein content, dairy has been associated with improved bone density.
- Probiotic yogurt may improve intestinal health and aid in the treatment of high blood pressure.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “Is it safe to eat expired yogurt?” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not it is safe to eat expired yogurt. Moreover, we discussed the health implications of eating spoiled yogurt.
Citations
https://www.myrecipes.com/extracrispy/can-you-eat-yogurt-past-its-expiration-date
https://www.livestrong.com/article/88137-side-effects-eating-expired-yogurt/
https://www.tastingtable.com/695479/eat-yogurt-past-sell-expiration-date/
