3. Deli meat
As soon as the slices are separated at the deli counter, their freshness begins to disappear. The sliced meat products should be consumed within three to five days of purchase, though it should be safe to eat them within 7 to 10 days of the sell-by date.
If it feels extremely slimy, if it smells remotely of vinegar, ammonia, or yeast, or if there’s any mold or other growth on the meat or the package, don’t eat!