Dating Do’s and Don’ts

In your “Food Safety Primer” (Nov. 24), you recommend placing recently purchased canned goods behind those purchased previously.

For folks with limited or haphazard pantry-shelf space, it is much easier to keep a capped marker on the shelf and to mark the date on the can before storing it. Of course, it can be embarrassing when a nosy kid discovers a can of extra-long gourmet string beans marked “11/84,” because you’ve been saving it for “something special.”

--LOUISE HAUTER

La Canada