What should be done with food that has passed its expiration date?

Food that has passed its expiration date should be discarded immediately. The expiration date indicates the time frame within which the product is expected to maintain its safety and quality. Consuming food beyond this date can pose health risks, as it may harbor harmful bacteria or toxins that develop as the food spoils.

Proper food safety practices require that items beyond their expiration date are not consumed or given away since they may no longer be safe. Cooking the food, as suggested in one of the other choices, does not necessarily make it safe if it has already begun to spoil. Similarly, giving it away or consuming it quickly does not mitigate the risks associated with expired food. Therefore, the best practice is to discard it to maintain health and safety standards in food handling.