In terms of food safety, why is it crucial to avoid using expired products?

Using expired products is crucial to avoid because it poses significant health risks to customers. When food items exceed their expiration dates, they may harbor harmful bacteria, toxins, or pathogens that can lead to foodborne illnesses. These health risks can manifest in various ways, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and more severe complications, depending on the product and the individual's health status. Ensuring that all food served is within its safe consumption period is essential for maintaining customer health and safety.

While customer dissatisfaction, product freshness, and staff reputation are important considerations in a food service environment, they are secondary to the primary concern of health. The overarching priority must always be the wellbeing of customers, which is why the use of expired products must be strictly avoided to uphold food safety standards.