What should be done if a food product is received with an intact package but is past its expiration date?

When a food product is received with an intact package but is past its expiration date, the appropriate action is to reject and return the product to the supplier. This is essential for ensuring food safety and compliance with regulatory standards. Utilizing products that have surpassed their expiration date poses a risk to consumer health since the safety and quality of the food cannot be guaranteed beyond that date.

Additionally, keeping expired products can lead to potential legal liabilities and negative impacts on business reputation. Rejecting and returning the product to the supplier not only protects consumers but also encourages suppliers to adhere to better inventory management practices to ensure that expired products do not reach customers in the future.

Other options could compromise safety: discarding the product might seem straightforward but does not address the accountability of the supplier. Using the product based on its appearance ignores the fact that visual inspection cannot determine safety. Marking down for sale could mislead consumers and violate health codes, as it puts an expired product into circulation, which is not permissible. Thus, rejecting and returning the product is the best practice in this scenario for maintaining food safety.