Comments on: Expiration Dates

By: Marian C Brown

Marian C Brown — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 18:46:06 +0000

Well, since my last post I have learned something new. While volunteering in a food bank down the road from me I found out that the Government of Canada will not allow the food bank to give food away that is more than 2 years past it’s expiry date. The food bank must indicate that the item is expired. This one had a separate section for expired food. Then it’s up to the person to make the decision. Items expired more than 2 years are discarded. The Government deems food products safe up until that time (again, depending on what it is, of course). They may, however, have lost some of the nutruitional values over that time. The expired foods at the food bank usually expire while on the shelf.

Good point about wondering how the expired items have been stored Becky. That can most definitely effect a foods quality and safety.

By: SherryPA

SherryPA — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 02:33:06 +0000

Becky, Did you notify your pharmacy about that discrepency? That really sounds so wrong…. I’ve also wondered where they obtain that merchandise. One that is not far from our house gets truckloads in on Sundays or Mondays I’m told. I went in there a couple of months ago, and the shelves were relatively empty. That didn’t use to be the case. I’m clueless as to what’s going on, but we all need to be safe.

By: Becky

Becky — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 20:24:30 +0000

Sherry, it concerns me too. And I wonder where the stores get those expired goods and where the goods have been stored. I’m surprised they are allowed to sell them.
I did notice on a prescription the ‘don’t use after’ date on the label was totally different that the expired date on the package, that date being over 6 months later! I don’t know why the pharmacy would put a different date since the prescription was in a sealed package, not pills counted into a bottle.

By: SherryPA

SherryPA — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 13:12:07 +0000

Becky, I know some very, very low income folks who buy those things all the time, and that really concerns me…. I just don’t understand how so many little stores are poppiing up all over the place with huge displays of the expired items with all of the control we have on us in most other areas of our lives.

By: Becky

Becky — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:12:18 +0000

What amazes me is that people will buy products with an expired expiration date on them. I am an avid label reader and that includes the dates.

By: Kitty

Kitty — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:02:08 +0000

Instant pudding doesn’t have milk, only food starches. I just looked this morning.

By: SherryPA

SherryPA — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:08:31 +0000

That last sentence…gah….should read, “I think we do need to be careful about the dates but not totally anal!!! Have to admit that I think I am a little anal about it though! lol!!!!

By: Becky

Becky — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 01:40:21 +0000

I think the shortening or fat in some mixes can cause them to go bad.
I try to pay attention to the dates but there are some items I’m not as cautious as others.
I try to date meats when I package and freeze them too.

When I buy canned goods, I try to make sure to pull the older cans to the front of the shelf so I use them first. Don’t always get it done but I try!

By: SherryPA

SherryPA — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:44:50 +0000

AMEN to that Marian….been there done that too……AWFUL!!!!

By: Marian C Brown

Marian C Brown — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 05:56:06 +0000

I most definitely pay attention to expiry/sell by dates. Especially milk and eggs. There was a special on TV a while ago, that said that even cake mixes can spoil. There was actually a recall on them. Apparently there is some kind of really harmful bacteria that can develop if not used by that date. I think it had something to do with mixes that had milk powder in them, which would include puddings, etc. I think most of the cake mixes and pudding mixes do contain powdered milk.

As for canned goods, I’m not too worried about. But if I’m shopping and have a choice of a can expiring in one month and one expiring in 3 months, you can bet I’ll take the one expiring in 3 months. No doubt.

I can’t stand eating bad/spoiled food and sometimes even the frozen food is bad. Not necessarily from a bacterial point of view, but freezer burned food is just awful, in my opinion.

If you have ever had food poisoning, you’ll always be extremely careful about spoiled food. That’s my personal experience.