Before You Toss Food, Wait. Check It Out! (2024)

FAQs

How long does canned food really last? ›

High acid foods such as tomatoes and other fruit will keep their best quality up to 18 months; low acid foods such as meat and vegetables, 2 to 5 years. While extremely rare, a toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum is the worst danger in canned goods.

Sell-By Date: Refers to the last day a retailer can display a product for sale; typically a food is safe to eat for 10 days after the Sell-by Date if refrigerated properly. Use-By Date: Refers to the last day a product will maintain its optimum freshness, flavor, and texture.

Expiration dates have more to do with the food's overall quality and texture instead of when it is safe or not safe to eat. As long as there are no signs of spoilage, you can eat it, but it might not taste as fresh as it once was. What foods can you not eat after the expiration date?

Most shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely. In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the 'best by' date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor.

While opening the jar, smell for unnatural odors and look for spurting liquid and cotton-like mold growth (white, blue, black, or green) on the top food surface and underside of lid. Spoiled low-acid foods, including tomatoes, may exhibit different kinds of spoilage evidence or very little evidence.

Thankfully, home canned goods, when stored properly (at room temperature, in a cool, dry place), last for up to a year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture notes that most food is safe even after such dates unless “spoilage is evident.” Given the lack of clarity about what these dates mean, many consumers employ a “when in doubt, throw it out” strategy.

Most cases of consuming expired food won't lead to serious health issues. Your body is often equipped to handle small amounts of bacteria or toxins in expired food without significant harm. Assess Symptoms: If you start feeling unwell after consuming expired food, pay attention to any symptoms you experience.

On those egg cartons, if an expiration date appears, it can be no more than 30 days after the pack date. "As long as they're kept properly refrigerated at 40°F or lower, fresh eggs are safe to eat four to five weeks beyond the carton's Julian date," Maloberti says.

While it's important to be wary of expiry dates on foods like meat, fish, and dairy, other pantry staples have a much longer shelf life. From condiments to baking ingredients, there are plenty of products you can safely consume past the “best by” or “use by” date printed on the package.

What to do after eating expired food? ›

Tips On What All To Do If You Eat Expired Food:

Take a deep breath and assess how you feel. Check The Symptoms: Monitor yourself for any signs of food poisoning or allergic reactions. Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, fever, headache, or dizziness. Drink Water: Stay hydrated.

According to the National Peanut Board, unopened, commercially processed peanut butter lasts for up to 9 months in the pantry, while opened conventional peanut butter lasts up to 3 months in the pantry and up to 9 months in the refrigerator.

In most cases, the best-by dates for cans of Spam are approximately three years after the manufacturing date. After the best-by date, Spam is still safe to eat; however, it may change in appearance, taste, or nutritional value.

“Food safety-wise, it's perfectly safe. Food quality-wise, it will change.” Peculiarities in foods stored in cans for many years may include lack of texture, cloudiness, and sometimes disintegration. Urbanec advises using canned foods within a year of processing, while the quality is best.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, canned contents are safe to eat as long as the can is in “good shape.” The Canned Food Alliance agrees, citing 100-year-old canned food that was recovered from sunken ships and tested microbiologically safe.

Can eating old food storage make my family sick? Properly packaged and stored dry grains can be safely consumed for more than 30 years. Canned foods stored in a cool, dry location, that are not bulging or leaking, can be safely eaten for several years past their best-if-used-by date printed on the can.

In most cases, the reasons for canned food going bad are: Exposure to air, leading to bacteria growth. High humidity or moisture in the air, causing mold. Hot weather, leading to rancidity.

Generally, high-acid foods (like tomatoes) will maintain their quality for 18 months after the "use by" or "sell by" date, while low-acid items (like meat and vegetables) will stay at their peak for two to five years.