In practically every kitchen, you can find a can of beans, soup, or veggies that someone forgot about and let to accumulate dust in the back of a cupboard. You could check the label, see if the date has passed, and toss it away just to be safe. But is that truly needed? Is it really dangerous to eat canned food that has gone bad, or is this just something people don’t know about how to store food? People tend to think that the truth is less helpful and more wasteful than it really is.
Many of us think that the dates on food packages are safety advisories, but that’s not always true for canned food. The date on the packaging, which could state “Best By,” “Best Before,” or “Sell By,” is usually about how good the food is, not how safe it is. The maker choose these dates to show when the product will taste, feel, and look its finest. The food may slowly lose its quality after that date, but in most circumstances, it is still safe to eat.
There are many various kinds of dates on food labels, yet most consumers don’t know what they all imply. This is probably what caused all the confusion. A “Sell By” date helps stores keep track of what they have in stock. A “Best By” or “Best Before” date indicates the customer when the product is most likely to be at its best. A “Use By” date is more important and is typically used for things like meat and dairy that go bad quickly. People don’t use it for canned meals very often. And even then, “Use By” isn’t usually a hard and fast safety date.
One of the best things about canned food is that it stays good for a long time. These things are designed to last a long time, far longer than most people think, because the container is sealed and cleaned. You can eat most canned foods 1 to 5 years after the date on the can. They might stay even longer if you store them in a cool, dry pantry that doesn’t get too hot, too cold, or too much light.
Canned beans, corn, potatoes, carrots, chicken, beef, and tuna are all examples of low-acid foods that can last for five years or more. That’s because they have less acid, which causes the chemicals within the can react more slowly. Tomatoes, pineapples, and citrus fruits are some items that have a lot of acid in them and may go bad sooner, usually between 12 and 18 months beyond the expiration date. But as long as the can is still in good form, many of these things are still safe.
The USDA says that canned food is OK to eat as long as the can isn’t broken. There shouldn’t be any rust, swelling, leaks, or big dents, especially along the edges where the can is sealed. As long as the can is still whole, the food inside stays safe from bacteria and spoiling.
There are, however, a few noteworthy exceptions. If a can is bulging, it could mean that germs like Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism, have developed within and let forth gas. Don’t open the can because this is a really risky situation. If you see rust or a leak in a can, the seal may have broken, letting air and perhaps dangerous bacteria in. Deep dents, especially on the top or bottom seams, could make the can less safe.
Before you eat the food in the can, always check its smell, color, and texture. Don’t taste anything that smells sour, metallic, rotten, or just “off.” Instead, throw it away. Another sign that anything is wrong is if the food looks or tastes strange or if there is a lot of liquid or foam flowing quickly. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and be on the lookout. But don’t think something is awful just because it has a date on it.
A lot of food goes to waste every year because people don’t know what expiration dates mean. People who worry about the environment and food safety believe that billions of pounds of fine food are thrown away for no cause. This not only costs families money, but it also causes bigger problems like landfills that are too full, methane emissions, and food shortages. People often toss away perfectly good canned foods because they think that “Best By” dates mean they aren’t safe to eat anymore.
Learning more about food labels can help you waste away less food and save money at the same time. It’s easy to save money over time by using what you already have, making your cupboard last longer, and not traveling to the store for products you don’t need. It might also be very helpful to know how long canned foods last in case of an emergency or when there isn’t enough food.
Don’t throw away an old can right away the next time you find one at the back of your cupboard. Look at it with your senses and try to find out what the date means. You could even eat the can that you forgot about for your next meal. Not throwing away food that has gone bad is a small but important step toward living more intelligently and sustainably.
