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DiagXCar

How we source and check our numbers

No storage time on DiagXCar is made up: each one traces to a public food-safety source. Below you will find which source, what we do with it and how we handle updates.

Our main source: USDA FoodKeeper

The figures on this site are taken from FoodKeeper, a storage database from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, produced together with Cornell University and the Food Marketing Institute. As a U.S. government work, it sits in the public domain.

The current import uses FoodKeeper version 128, released 09-06-2018. Its SHA-256 checksum is 037df0d301126acd8a48824506f04d49d8be1a1144b81fa69e4170228dc2e91a, which lets anyone confirm that the dataset we load has not been altered.

FoodKeeper leaves out a handful of foods. Breast milk is one example; for items like that we rely on a different named public source (the CDC, in the case of breast milk), and the page credits it instead of FoodKeeper.

From dataset to finished page

  1. Import. A script walks through every FoodKeeper entry and keeps its pantry, fridge and freezer durations, the distinct "after opening" and "after thawing" figures, and the FSIS storage tips.
  2. Rename. Products get the names people actually type into a search box, so FoodKeeper's "Cheese — hard such as cheddar, swiss" turns into "Hard cheese". The durations stay exactly as published.
  3. Add the 2-hour rule. FoodKeeper seldom lists a room-temperature time for perishables. When it is missing, we fall back on the general FSIS rule: perishable food goes in the trash after 2 hours at room temperature, or after 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
  4. Add the context. Spoilage signs, freezing steps and storage tips are based on FSIS guidance for each food type. We never fill a gap with a guessed duration; when FoodKeeper has no figure, the page reads "Not listed".

How to read the numbers

  • Fridge times assume a refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. Plenty of fridges run warm, so a thermometer is worth having.
  • Freezer times describe quality only. At 0°F (-18°C), food stays safe indefinitely; once the listed time passes, flavor and texture begin to suffer.
  • Pantry times are counted from the purchase date unless a page states otherwise.
  • Ranges like "4–6 days" should be read conservatively: aim for the lower number.

Whatever a page says, throw away food that smells, looks or feels off. DiagXCar offers general guidance and is not a substitute for medical advice.

What "last verified" means

Every page displays the month in which its figures were last compared with the current FoodKeeper release. The most recent full review took place in November 2026. Dates in our sitemap only move when the data itself changes, never because a page got a new design.

Fixing mistakes

Each food page includes a "Report a wrong number" link. Include your source when you use it, and within a few days we compare the claim with FoodKeeper and FSIS. When we got something wrong, we correct the page and refresh its verified date. Email works too: hello@diagxcar.com.