Experts say here in the valley, we do need to be a bit more cautious since many products are imported. But they also stress that not all dates mean the food is unsafe the moment the clock strikes midnight.

Las Vegas

Food expiration dates often cause confusion and lead to unnecessary waste, but experts say most labels are guidelines for quality rather than strict safety deadlines. Local supermarket expert Joseph Welch explains that terms like 'sell-by' and 'best-if-used-by' are more about ensuring freshness, and eating food a day or so past these dates is generally safe if there are no signs of spoilage.

However, consumers should remain vigilant for warning signs such as bloated packaging, bad odors, or discoloration, which indicate food should not be consumed. Regardless of the date on the package, experts recommend using personal judgment and sensory checks before deciding to eat food that is past its labeled date.

How long can you really push food expiration dates?

FOOD EXPIRATION DATES CAN BE CONFUSING AND FRUSTRATING. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TOSS OUT FOOD YOU DIDN'T EVEN GET A CHANCE TO EAT BEFORE THE DATE ON THAT LABEL. GOOD MORNING LAS VEGAS REPORTER SHAKIRA HAWKINS EXPLAINS WHAT THOSE LABELS REALLY MEAN AND IF THERE'S ANY WIGGLE ROOM TO WHAT THEY SAY SO YOU CAN SAVE SOME MONEY. Many of us worry about food expiration dates, but what do they really mean and how long can you safely push them? From sell-by to best-if-used-by, those labels can be confusing and cost you a lot of money. I don't want to get my mom sick and she lives with me so I'm her guarantee. For Las Vegas local Susan Miller, eating food past the expiration date isn't worth the risk, especially with her elderly mother's health on the line. Is there anything that you'll eat past the expiration date? That cautious approach is common here in the Valley, but local supermarket expert Joseph Welch says most labels aren't as strict as people think. Sell-by, we typically associate that with perishables. You'll see that in the meat department, in the bakery, because we have a track record on how good those products are until they get someone sick. So for the people who throw away food and they don't go a day past that expiration date, what do you have to tell those people? I'd tell them to calm down. Welch says best-if-used-by is more about quality than safety. And even an expiration date, he says, is often a safeguard, not a hard stop. There's always that better safe than sorry feeling that overcomes all of us. But they're not going to be injured a day or so past the expiration date. Still, there are warning signs you shouldn't ignore, like inflated lunch meat packaging, meaning the vacuum seal is loose. Bad-smelling chicken or discolored ground beef are also no-nos. Welch says Valley residents should also be mindful because many foods here are imported. But he tells me what some locals may not know is that most of our vegetables are actually grown on the border of Arizona and Mexico or in California, so they're not coming from as far as you may think. And nearly all seafood brought into Las Vegas has been frozen at some point, making it safe as long as it's handled properly. Keep your own personal disciplines. You know how much products you're going to utilize at the house and you're probably not going to get real sick if you're a day or so beyond the expiration point. But for shoppers like Susan Miller, it's just not worth the risk. I'd rather not take the chance. And remember, experts say regardless of what dates on the package, it's best to use your own judgment before you decide to eat something. For Good Morning Las Vegas, I'm Shakira Hawkins. My smell test goes quite a long way. It does. Do you have a consumer concern or a tip that you want Shakira to look into? You can contact her with your scam warnings and money savings hacks by scanning the QR code that you see on your screen, or you can send her an email. That is Shakira.Hawkins at KTNV.com.

The National Guard has started to patrol the streets of Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency. He’s also ordered troops to clear out all homeless encampments by the end of the week.

Washington

National Guard starts patrolling Washington

Record-high temperatures across Europe are fanning wildfires across the continent. Experts say a warming climate and an increase in flammable vegetation from rural depopulation are major factors.

Madrid

Historic heat fuels fires across Europe

Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán said the EU attempts to set conditions for a meeting to which leaders of the EU were not invited. He also called for an EU-Russia summit.

Brussels

Ukraine Invasion

EU leaders rally behind Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin talks

President Trump said Monday he expects that Russia and Ukraine will "land swap" certain territories as part of an eventual ceasefire deal. Mr. Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

Trump claims 'land swapping' between Russia, Ukraine will happen

Taylor Swift confirmed her 12th studio album, "The Life of a Showgirl," in a teaser for her upcoming appearance on her boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast. Swift did not disclose the release date of the album.

Taylor Swift announces new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'

U.S. President Donald Trump said that his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday will be to "feel out" the leader as pressure mounts for Russia and Ukraine to make a peace deal.

Trump to meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday

A meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to take place in Alaska, with European leaders notably excluded from the talks. Until Europe can defend itself, it's not likely to be invited to a great power dialogue, experts have told Euronews.

Alaska

Europe frozen out as U.S. and Russia prepare for Alaska talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Kyiv and Moscow will both have to cede land to end the war in Ukraine and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week will instantly show whether the Kremlin leader is willing to make a deal.

Trump says both sides in Ukraine war will need to cede territory

A prominent Al Jazeera journalist, who had previously been threatened by Israel, was killed along with four colleagues and another journalist in an Israeli airstrike in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israeli strike kills Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza

At last one person is dead, dozens are injured and two people are unaccounted for after an explosion at the U.S. Steel Clairton plant in Pennsylvania on Monday.

Clairton

At least 1 dead, dozens injured in U.S. Steel plant explosion

President Donald Trump has placed the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and announced he's activating the National Guard to combat crime in Washington, D.C.

Trump deploying National Guard to Washington, D.C.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair.

Trump and Putin set to meet on Friday without Zelenskyy

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Kyiv and its allies fear being sidelined and worry any deal could reward Moscow’s occupation of Ukrainian territory.

Kyiv

Ukraine fights for a seat at the table ahead of Trump-Putin summit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is defending his decision to keep fighting in Gaza, despite protests at home and abroad. Debora Patta has the latest.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Netanyahu defends plan to expand war in Gaza

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thanking European leaders for backing his push to join this week's Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, insisting an end to the war must be fair. Willie James Inman has more from the White House.

Anchorage

Countdown begins to Trump-Putin meeting, without Zelenskyy

Violent weather hit several Midwest states over the weekend, with high winds being blamed for the death of at least one person in Nebraska and flash flooding prompting a state of emergency in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee inundated with floodwaters, one dead in Nebraska

Thirty-seven major wildfires are currently burning across nine states in the western United States. Firefighters have made significant progress on the Canyon Fire in California, achieving 62% containment and allowing over 4,000 residents to return home, with minimal property loss reported.

Major fires continue to burn across western U.S.

President Donald Trump's envoy met with the Qatari prime minister on Saturday in Spain to discuss possible deals to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as Israel's military plans to expand into Gaza City. Meanwhile, families of Israeli hostages and Palestinians alike are pleading for peace.

Families of Israeli hostages, Palestinians plead for ceasefire

Renewed anti-government protests have taken place in Israel, where relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages held by Hamas demanded their release and an end to the brutal war Israel has been waging in Gaza.

Israeli anti-government protesters take to the streets in Tel Aviv

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Kyiv "values and fully supports" a joint statement by European leaders that welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to try to end the war, while emphasizing the need to pressure Russia and provide security guarantees for Kyiv.

Europe stresses need to protect Ukraine ahead of Trump-Putin meet

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has firmly rejected Russia’s proposal requiring land concessions to end the war. Ukrainian and European officials have submitted a counterproposal to Washington.

Ukraine, Europe counter Russian ceasefire proposal ahead of US talks

There have been more protests, and counter protests, in several British towns and cities, outside of hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers. Some far-right protesters called for one of the hotels to stop housing migrants.

Bournemouth

UK: Anti-immigration & anti-racism protesters face off

A man who opened fire on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, firing into the complex from a pharmacy and killing a police officer, blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal, according to reports.

Atlanta

Vaccine conspiracy could be behind Atlanta shooting

The Gifford Fire burning through the rugged backcountry of California's Central Coast is now the state's largest wildfire of the year. It has reached so-called "mega-fire" status and is one of 38 large fires burning across nine states.

San Luis Obispo

Largest California wildfire of 2025 reaches "mega fire" status

President Trump is preparing to take another swing at a deal with President Putin during a high-stakes summit next Friday in Anchorage, Alaska. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the country will never give up land, even if it means an end to the war.

Trump: Ukraine must cede land for ceasefire; Zelenskyy refuses

The United Nations Security Council is set to hold a rare Sunday meeting to discuss Israel's plan to intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking control of Gaza City. CBS News' Debora Patta reports on the conflict and the mounting humanitarian crisis.

Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza comes under fire

At least 200 protesters have been arrested at a rally showing solidarity for Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Parliament in London. Crowds are also demonstrating against a ban on the Palestine Action group, after it was designated as a terrorist organisation.

Breakdown