Not sure if there's a question in there. ;-)

I tend to have a slightly different philosophy:

Condiments or other stuff that lasts forever - If I realize that forever is close to approaching I'll decide if I can realistically expect to use any of it within the next weeks or month. If so, I may keep it. If not, I toss it without regret. A relatively full bottle means I stand little chance of using much of it up soon anyway. Just a waste of fridge space. A relatively empty bottle means I've already got good use from it. No need to cry over minimal waste.

If I'm buying meat on sale because it's at or close to "the date," I'm buying it for immediate consumption. Maybe "thaw overnight in the fridge" applies better to folks who keep their fridges warmer than I, but for me very little thaws overnight in the fridge. So if I froze it close to the date, now I'd get to worrying about if parts of it are getting too old by the time it all fully thawed. More a mental thing to be sure, but for me saving a couple bucks on something that's going to take up freezer space for months only to be eyed suspiciously when ready to use is pound foolish.

Your idiosyncrasies may vary.

I've always paid attention to the use-by, best-by, sell-by dates when I've bought things and checked them again before I used them... However, if it expired before I got around to using it and needed it I'd use my best judgment on whether or not it's safe to eat... But lately, since I can no longer trust my sense of smell, I'm tossing things every week end...

Rita

Myself I am very cautious about what I buy because I SO hate wasting food. DH will buy something just because he likes it without really working out how practical that food purchase is. But me I'm wondering how long it will be good for, how will we use it, how much if any will end up in the trash nearly everytime I buy something. Maybe that's too much thinking, probably so:) But since cleaning out the fridge and cupboards falls to me and I am stickler on respecting that use-by date I take it very seriously.

Kate

I am the expiration date police around here. If it's expired, out it goes.

I would have so much doubt on whether it was still good or not I wouldn't enjoy eating it so I just throw it out and buy fresh.

Sorry, can't help it.

Here too Shaun... if it is expired, out it goes.

Alexa

I'll keep things like mustard or pickles past their "best by" date because they are still safe. There's a difference between "use by" and "sell by". Items are still good for a period beyond the "sell by" or "best if used by" dates. If the flavor is compromised, though, out it goes, it's just silly to eat something that's stale or tastes off and you don't enjoy it anyway.

As for never going bad, catsup (or ketchup) does indeed go bad if not refrigerated. It actually ferments and turns sour, it used to happen when we still owned the bar and grille if it was left on tables in the containers. Tje first time it happened, I thought it was an anomaly. After a second batch, I got really strict about refrigerating bottles of catsup, cleaning containers and discarding the last little bit left in bottles.

Annie

I'm in shaun's "expiration date police" category, mostly because I do large-scale home food storage and am always rotating food in and out of storage. I'm diligent monitoring dates to avoid wasted food and to make sure things get used in a timely manor.

I would hesitate considering opened and refrigerated condiments in the "lasts forever" category, especially if they are left out at room temperature for prolonged periods of time each time they are used; if the refrigerator they are stored in has a temperature lower than 40°F; or if the rim of the container gets a drip wiped off of it with a finger, used dish rag or kitchen sponge, which is a good way to introduce bacteria into the container. Having had food poisoning just ONCE tends to put me on the side of caution - that and attending a number of Food Safety Classes.

You'll find some more information on the subject in the link below.

-Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Shelf Stable Acid Preserved Foods

For condiments I let my nose guide me, on Greek yogurt, the date is just a reference, we can use it a month later and it's still fine. Of course I smell and look for any hint of mold and then ask DH to taste it. Not just because he's my guinea pig, but because he has the cast iron stomach in the family!
Just this morning I finished off a jar of grainy mustard and noticed that the date had expired months ago. In that instance there was no taste or smell clue that it was old. If I had realized it, I probably would have tossed it. Last night I also tossed some flavored Boyjian oils. I wanted some basil oil, but all 3 sample bottles were out of date and smelled funky. I always smell whatever oil or salad dressing before using, the oil can go off in a day and ruin the meal.
Meat or milk- past the date and out it goes!