Out of date cans and packets

vivw_2

I have just emptied the food cupboard of my campervan and have found lots of tins of food and cans of drink that are out of date....are they safe to eat.
Also found several jars of the tomato sauce stuff that you add to pasta dated nov 06....is it safe?

tentickles666

open it and give it a sniff!

there is a difference between bbe (best beofre end) and use by dates. bbe means after the date it may lose colour or taste and generally not be as good as before the date and use by is more for things like egg milk and meats that can hurt you when they go off!

the only way to be sure is to try them!

belfastgirl23

veggie type things I always think are safe enough for a good while - I'm eating tinned pears marked nov 06 at the min and they're fine. Would be a bit warier about fish or meat though!

Stephen_Leak

IMHO, foods should have display until, best before, use by and "sniff by" dates.

organic_wanabe

I made chocolate brownies this weekend with G&B chocolate which should have been used by mid 2006 and they were absolutely delicious!

niccy

would anyone know the legal ramifications for shops selling "out of date" stock

jovichick123

I agree with the above, sniff and see!! lol

jrrowleyws

niccy wrote: »

would anyone know the legal ramifications for shops selling "out of date" stock

Depends on type of date.

Display until can be stretched (although shouldnt be really) providing it doesnt exceed the use by date.

Use by can NOT in any circumstances be stretched, if caught im pretty sure its a £1000 per item fine if caught(if i remember correctly from food laws).

Best before can be elongated slightly, but generally this isnt needed as stock usually moves round well before this date. Not sure of the legality of this though.

woody1234

just been to my local tescos and saw some items that are out of date soon.
i guess they wont spot them when they are out of date as it is a slow line.
do i get rewards if i tell the manager when they are or do i tell trading standards?
i did tell asda one day about a box of items which where over 2 months old but only got a bottle of wine.
i guess i saved asda over £20,000
shame i only got a £6 bottle...50/50 sounds better

savingsara_2

I'm currently using coffee with bb date June 2006 and gravy mix from last year too (purchased from factory shop, out of date when I bought them).

If the tins aren't blown or rusty then the contents are probably fine...like the others say, use you nose and your common sense, you can't go far wrong.