Packaged food often stays safe long after its expiration date if stored properly

the gist

Many people throw away packaged food the day its date passes, but in the US those printed dates are usually not safety deadlines. Most 'use-by' and 'best-by' labels are manufacturers' suggestions about when a product will taste or perform its best. A few states regulate some dates, and federal law requires them for infant formula, but for most groceries the date is a guide to quality rather than a cutoff for safety. Sealed food kept cool and dry can often remain safe well beyond the printed date, though spoilage signs like off smells, mould, bulging cans or broken seals still matter. Knowing the difference can cut down a lot of avoidable food waste.

so what

The confusion around date labels is a major reason households waste food, and understanding what the dates actually mean lets people save money and reduce waste. The mismatch between what people assume and what the labels say is a classic everyday misconception.

fun fact

Infant formula is one of the few US products where federal law requires an expiration date.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Illustrative photo · Chenspec, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

historyWikipediaclassic1336–1565 · Karnataka, India

Hampi was once one of the world's largest cities, until its Vijayanagara capital was destroyed in 1565

the gist

Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, with more than 1,600 surviving remains spread over 4,100 hectares. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. Travellers from Persia and Portugal described it as a prosperous, wealthy and grand city with temples, markets and farms along the Tungabhadra River. By 1500 it was estimated to be the world's second-largest city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at the time. In 1565 a coalition of Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, its capital was conquered and destroyed, and the city was left in ruins. Hampi remains a religious centre, with the active Virupaksha Temple at its heart.

how it works

The city was built around a fortified core with temples, markets and water structures along the river, supplied by an extensive network of roads and waterworks. When the empire fell, the city was not rebuilt, so its stone monuments were left standing.

so what

Hampi shows how quickly a great city can vanish after a military defeat, and how a ruined capital can remain sacred. Its ruins give historians a view of medieval South Asia that few other sites can match.

fun fact

The name Hampi comes from Pampa, an old name for the Tungabhadra River.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · text CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons

source: Wikipedia ↗

2 min

politicsshortCNA2:01

False allegations about Singapore’s hand in Indonesia’s markets and a made-up meeting

from CNA

CNA Verify has found close to 400 posts pushing falsehoods tying Singapore to Indonesia’s stock market rout and to a secret meeting that never took place. Together, they drew nearly 12 million views, and some were circulated by accounts that appeared to be working in concert, across multiple social media platforms.

Here’s how the disinformation campaign targeting Singapore was uncovered.

on YouTube: CNA ↗