As a self-proclaimed semi-foodie, I love eating out. But after reading Smart Money’s ‘10 Things Restaurants Won’t Tell You‘, I might think twice about what I’m ordering next time I go out. For instance, should I be ordering the special of the day?

…Countless variables can leave surplus ingredients at the end of the day—which often become tomorrow’s special. “It could be the chef legitimately wants to try out something new,” says Stephen Zagor, founder of consulting firm Hospitality & Culinary Resources. “But it could also be something nearing the end of its shelf life that needs to get out of the kitchen.”

Ew. Ew. Ew.