I have been told that the expiration dates are buy by dates, and allow a couple of days for use. Don't know is that is true or not. Like Jeff, I would give it a sniff. and, just to be on the safe sied, I would cook it well.
Open it and smell it - off meat has a very distinctive smell. If it smells OK, cook it very well - I would suggest a caserole of pasta sauce type thung with a lenghtyish cooking time. The browness will probably be due to oxidation - not a problem.
There are often two dates on - one for the shop which is a sell by date. There may also be a use by date. These are usually guidelines and an indicator of when quality begins to deteriote. Things can go off before the sell by date!!!! - always do a smell and visual check.