Out of Date Mattessons Smoked Pork Sausage

dronid

I often use these for handy meaty stuff in food, cassoulet etc but found a couple at the back of the cupboard (they don't need refrigeration) a month out of date. However, the date is a use by rather than best before. Functionally I don't know why it's a use by rather than best before date but am slightly wavering over using them. Any thoughts as to why a cupboard ingredient like that would have use by rather than best before, like canned meat?

ragz_2

I'd open it and sniff it, it's cured and full of salt... I guess it's use by because it's not canned, that packaging may be slightly permeable?

bossymoo

I'd probably do the sniff test too x

peachyprice

I would imagine the plastic tube packaging isn't as durable as a can ans probably deteriorates at a much quicker rate, hence the use by date.

How much out of date it a month? If they usually have 5 yrs life and it's only a month over I'd use it, if they usually have 6 months life and it's a month over I probably wouldn't.