What exactly do dates on food packages mean?
Q. Are the dates on food packages important for food safety or just suggestions for best quality?
A. These dates - "best by," "sell by" and "use by" - mean different things and often are not required by federal law to be on the package. Most dates you see on food packages are not related to food safety; they tell you how long the product stays at peak quality. Those foods are safe and useable beyond those dates.
However, there are some important exceptions: Meat and poultry are labeled with "sell by" dates that are related to food safety. They should be cooked or frozen within two days after the sell-by date on the package.
Eggs may or may not have a "sell by" date, depending on state laws. Buy eggs before the date limit and use them within 3 to 5 weeks of purchase. As long as you store them properly - in their original carton and in the coldest part of the refrigerator (not the door) - even if the "sell-by" date expires during that time, the eggs are quite safe.
Infant formula and many baby foods are required to carry "use by" dates, which reflect quality as well as nutrient retention. For example, if stored too long, formula can separate and clog the nipple. Don't buy or use baby formula or baby food after its "use-by" date.
Of course, if foods are mishandled, bacteria can grow and cause foodborne illness regardless of the date on the package. For example, if cold cuts were left at room temperature more than two hours, they wouldn't be safe even if the date had not expired.
Q. Is it true that a woman's weight affects her tendency for hot flashes and night sweats during menopause?
A. The causes of night sweats and hot flashes in the years surrounding menopause are still not completely understood. Women who are more overweight seem to be more likely to have moderate or severe hot flashes, according to a few population studies. There's also limited research linking weight gain and lower levels of physical activity to hot flashes.
A study that followed 1,659 midlife women for four years showed that gains in body fat were associated with greater odds of hot flashes, even after adjusting for a variety of menopausal factors and hormone levels. Night sweats, however, were not related to body fat changes in this study.
Considering that a landmark report on diet and cancer risk by the American Institute for Cancer Research concluded that obesity increases risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, there's plenty of reason to take action if you see increases on the scale, waist measure or pants size. You can usually stop weight gain with simple steps like reducing daily food and drink choices by 100- or 200-calories and adding an extra 15-20 minutes of walking or other moderate activity to your current average.
• Provided by the American Institute for Cancer Research. Learn more about the group and its New American Plate program at aicr.org.