[Shaun]

There's a couple of items I use in baking that're in the cupboard and say they went out of date like a year ago but taste/smell fine (lemon juice, vanilla extract).

I wouldn't risk it with meat but bread I'll use until it goes hard, and milk until it smells funny, etc. Potatoes are the weirdest 'use by' dates for me, always seem fine even for a month after it.