I've used food for sensory play. Call me bad.
It certainly can't be any worse than throwing away disgusting amounts of food we offer, because of food program rules, that the dcks won't eat.
FWIW, my rice tub is at least 5 yrs. old and my smaller bucket of pasta that I have set aside for projects is even older.
IMO there are so many ridiculous rules of what we can/cannot do, it boggles the mind.