If not there, taste it and if it tastes ok enjoy; hell we ate K rations from WWII (1943) in the late 60s while we were cleaning out a government warehouse, no one got sick, and no expiration labels anywhere.
Better yet.. my mom would buy maple syrup in gallon cans, separate it and seal it in pint jars. When we were cleaning out her pantry, we found a whole hoard of pint jars dated the week Nixon resigned. I still have two of them.
The only time I really pay attention to food expiration dates is when I donate to food pantries… they won’t accept donations that are past the expiration date.
Definition of Use By/Expirartion Date = Manufacture want you to throw out perfectly good product and buy miore to keep them in business. One has to use their own judgment based on type of packaging, condition of packaging and how stored if an item past it’s Use By/Expiration Date is still good.
We were moving our Lions Club out the back of the local fire hall. There was one locked cupboard that wasn’t ours and no one had the keys. The mayor came down and took the doors off and found it was full of fire department stuff including a six pack of Centennial Beer (Canadians will remember)
When I was in the SF Bay area, a radio DJ had an Oldest Food contest. Had to be unopened and have an expiration or best by date. The first caller had something that was 19 years old. No one beat that.
Our family has had a decade long disagreement about expiration dates and I’ve done a bit of research to defend my pantry:
Food expiration dates refer to quality, not safety, which means a lot of foods are OK to eat past their so-called “expiration” dates, they just might not be as nutritious. Often the only time you have to worry is how long the food container has been open/unsealed. If a can an is in good shape, with no rust/big dents/swelling, the food inside should last for years. Packaged goods tend to get stale or take on an off taste after the “best used by date.” That’s the reason it is called ‘best used by’.
“Sell by” dates often just refer to the time they have to be removed from the grocery shelf in order to make room for the next shipment.
According to the internet, there are some foods that aren’t good to keep around too long:
— Egg substitutes that come in a carton only last around 5 days after being opened, and 10 days unopened. Eggs themselves are fine for 3 to 5 weeks. To be really sure, fill a bowl with cold water and place the egg inside. If the egg sinks to the bottom, it’s fresh. If the egg sinks to the bottom but stands on its point, it’s still good but needs to be used soon. If the egg floats to the top, discard it.
—Soft [aged] cheeses only last a few days after they have been opened.
—Cold pressed [unpasteurized] juices.
—Fresh berries. Toss them or freeze them after a week.
-Jarred condiments. Once they are unsealed, they are quite susceptible to bacteria. An easy check is if liquid has formed on the top. [I do remember catsup bottles being left on the tables in my hometown cafe back in the ’60s until they were complete empty - never refrigerated. They would be wiped off when the tables were cleaned before closing and maybe if they got really gunky during the day.]
For the most part, expiration dates are a way to increase sales. I worked for a soft drink company. Anything in glass or cans will last a long time after the expiration date. Plastic allows the carbonation to escape which results in flat soda. The lack of carbonation allows air into the soda which allows bacteria to develop.
I guess I’m much more cautious than most people because I had food poisoning once. Not from canned food, but from a restaurant. I ended up in the emergency room to get the vomiting stopped. Needless to say, I didn’t eat at that restaurant again!
Creature from the Black Legume over 1 year ago
Fine-print eyestrain? Here’s a shortcut: Looks for bulges, leaks, and rust.
Grandma Lea over 1 year ago
If not there, taste it and if it tastes ok enjoy; hell we ate K rations from WWII (1943) in the late 60s while we were cleaning out a government warehouse, no one got sick, and no expiration labels anywhere.
some idiot from R'lyeh Premium Member over 1 year ago
Wow, that’s the good stuff, from before they changed the formula.
i_am_the_jam over 1 year ago
Reminds me of a strip from “Mafalda”… :D :D :D
jmolay161 over 1 year ago
And if you saw Reagan movies in theaters when you were a kid, you are most definitely a plugger.
jmolay161 over 1 year ago
I remember my father enjoyed canned sardines and spam when I was a kid, which he probably got from his WWII rations while stationed in England.
ellisaana Premium Member over 1 year ago
Better yet.. my mom would buy maple syrup in gallon cans, separate it and seal it in pint jars. When we were cleaning out her pantry, we found a whole hoard of pint jars dated the week Nixon resigned. I still have two of them.
jmolay161 over 1 year ago
Nixon’s Maple Syrup, from the expiration date of Nixon’s presidency. How sweet!
ISENOTHING over 1 year ago
Did they have dates on cans in 1980?
Guy from southern Indiana over 1 year ago
The only time I really pay attention to food expiration dates is when I donate to food pantries… they won’t accept donations that are past the expiration date.
juicebruce over 1 year ago
When I purchase stuff I usually write the date on it when purchased. Try to do FIFO with most food ;-)
kaycstamper over 1 year ago
My sister died in March and when cleaning out her kitchen, I found cans of food exp 1978!
ctolson over 1 year ago
Definition of Use By/Expirartion Date = Manufacture want you to throw out perfectly good product and buy miore to keep them in business. One has to use their own judgment based on type of packaging, condition of packaging and how stored if an item past it’s Use By/Expiration Date is still good.
Flatlander, purveyor of fine covfefe over 1 year ago
We were moving our Lions Club out the back of the local fire hall. There was one locked cupboard that wasn’t ours and no one had the keys. The mayor came down and took the doors off and found it was full of fire department stuff including a six pack of Centennial Beer (Canadians will remember)
david_42 over 1 year ago
When I was in the SF Bay area, a radio DJ had an Oldest Food contest. Had to be unopened and have an expiration or best by date. The first caller had something that was 19 years old. No one beat that.
GreenT267 over 1 year ago
Our family has had a decade long disagreement about expiration dates and I’ve done a bit of research to defend my pantry:
Food expiration dates refer to quality, not safety, which means a lot of foods are OK to eat past their so-called “expiration” dates, they just might not be as nutritious. Often the only time you have to worry is how long the food container has been open/unsealed. If a can an is in good shape, with no rust/big dents/swelling, the food inside should last for years. Packaged goods tend to get stale or take on an off taste after the “best used by date.” That’s the reason it is called ‘best used by’.
“Sell by” dates often just refer to the time they have to be removed from the grocery shelf in order to make room for the next shipment.
According to the internet, there are some foods that aren’t good to keep around too long:
— Egg substitutes that come in a carton only last around 5 days after being opened, and 10 days unopened. Eggs themselves are fine for 3 to 5 weeks. To be really sure, fill a bowl with cold water and place the egg inside. If the egg sinks to the bottom, it’s fresh. If the egg sinks to the bottom but stands on its point, it’s still good but needs to be used soon. If the egg floats to the top, discard it.
—Soft [aged] cheeses only last a few days after they have been opened.
—Cold pressed [unpasteurized] juices.
—Fresh berries. Toss them or freeze them after a week.
-Jarred condiments. Once they are unsealed, they are quite susceptible to bacteria. An easy check is if liquid has formed on the top. [I do remember catsup bottles being left on the tables in my hometown cafe back in the ’60s until they were complete empty - never refrigerated. They would be wiped off when the tables were cleaned before closing and maybe if they got really gunky during the day.]
flemmingo over 1 year ago
My wife’s aunt fixed sloppy joes from a can that was swollen. She wanted to know if I wanted any . No thanks! Her and her son didn’t get sick.
ladykat over 1 year ago
If it’s been expired for that long, I’d chuck it.
ajr58(1) over 1 year ago
I was an adult then, so that can’t be THAT old ….
dap1004 over 1 year ago
For the most part, expiration dates are a way to increase sales. I worked for a soft drink company. Anything in glass or cans will last a long time after the expiration date. Plastic allows the carbonation to escape which results in flat soda. The lack of carbonation allows air into the soda which allows bacteria to develop.
ragsarooni Premium Member over 1 year ago
Unfortunately,been there,done that……
Alberta Oil Premium Member over 1 year ago
I’m in.. especially if you include spice*s.
Spacetech over 1 year ago
And are still willing to eat it!!!
sandflea over 1 year ago
Guilty.
g04922 over 1 year ago
Most Sell By, Use By and even Expire dates are a ruse to stimulate people to throw away perfectly good product and buy more.
kathleenhicks62 over 1 year ago
If it’s swollen- -trash it!!!
dogday Premium Member over 1 year ago
You’re a plugger if you know WHEN the Reagan administration was.
anomalous4 over 1 year ago
There’s no convincing some people that “best by…” does NOT mean “turns inedible at 11:59:59pm on…”
mistercatworks over 1 year ago
You’re a REAL plugger if you find a can from the days before expiration dates. :)
finnygirl Premium Member over 1 year ago
I guess I’m much more cautious than most people because I had food poisoning once. Not from canned food, but from a restaurant. I ended up in the emergency room to get the vomiting stopped. Needless to say, I didn’t eat at that restaurant again!
DaBump Premium Member over 1 year ago
Had some canned fruit that might have gone back to the Carter era. I ate it.