You may want to open up your refrigerator and cabinets to check the expiration date of your family's food.

We found some health regulations that may surprise you.

There are no federal guidelines that says companies much put expiration dates on food.

While we do everything we can to make sure our families are safe, how do you make sure what's at the store, isn't out of date?

A spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection say expiration dates are only required on baby formula and smoked fish.

Any other dating such as 'sell by' dates or 'expiration' dates are voluntary by a wholesaler or retailer.

When we asked her why the federal or state government doesn't have mandatory dating on all foods, she says it's because so much depends on how consumers handle products after they buy them, which really determines how long they last.

A federal mandate was put in place for expiration dates on baby food because infants are more vulnerable to getting sick, and state mandated on smoked fish because of how it's made.

She says, "As far as smoked fish, that fish is never really cooked, it's smoked but it's not cooked and there could be pathogens in there and as long as its kept in the used by time its okay but you don't want."

If a grocery store sells out of date formula or smoked fish, their license could be suspended.

She says you can still eat a product about two to three days after it's 'sell by' or 'best by' date, and an item that has an 'expired by' date should be used by the end of the month printed.