What should be done to food items that are past their expiration date?

Food items that are past their expiration date should be discarded to ensure safety. The expiration date serves as a guideline indicating the period during which the food is expected to remain safe and maintain its intended quality. Consuming food past this date can pose significant health risks due to the potential growth of harmful bacteria or spoilage organisms, which can lead to foodborne illnesses.

Discarding expired items helps to maintain safe food handling practices and protects both customers and staff from potential health hazards. Keeping such items for later use, freezing them, or donating them are not appropriate actions because they do not guarantee the safety of the food. It's essential to adhere to food safety guidelines to uphold high standards in food service environments.