Can food get bad before the expiration date?

I have always lived by the law which is "when in doubt throw it out" The date really means nothing it all depends whether it has been handles properly from begining to end. The good until date is usually just until the product is open and then once you open the product it is exposed to all kinds of bacteria. I would throw it out for sure

I've had food go bad before the expiration date on it. One little store out here was famous for changing the dates on their foods, and I got horribly ill from it. Needless to say they got shut down for improper food practices. Another way food can go bad before it's expiration date is if it hasn't been properly refrigerated, or if at mealtime it sat on the table too long and bacteria started growing. This is especially true in the hot of the summer. Also, just because it has a sell-by date doesn't mean that date is for after it's opened, once it's been opened it will not stay and must be used sooner. Gotta agree with grammasnook (post #1), it is a theory I use too: When in doubt, throw it out! No food is worth taking a chance on if you're not 100% sure of it. Besides, a food can still be bad and NOT have an odor to it.