I'm always careful with the dates on food. Less careful about making sure we have any that's still good before getting to that part of the cooking process than I should be though. Mac n cheese, for an example. Boiled the water, cooked the noodles. Open the fridge for milk and butter, "Oh." Making a pizza? Crust sauced and ready to go, "This cheese appears to be a fossil. Is that pepperoni green?"