When it really happens: SHTF...

[Ovidio]

Correct : look, smell, taste. Most times food will still be good.
Actually some foodstuff is better close to the expiry date than fresh. That is due to the short shelf-life, which forces the producers to put certain things in the market before they are completely ripe. Soft cheese is a very good example. Certosa, stracchino... The quality manager of one of Italy’s main dairy factories told me that. He suggested to eat their products in the last week before expiry or even after that. Just following the above rule: look, smell and, if everything is still ok, taste.