Out of date canned food

I sometimes shop at a warehouse that specialises in stock passed its Best Before date. They quite often have items that are over a year beyond the stated date. We usually select tins and jars. Nothing has made us ill - and we have saved a fortune in housekeeping. 50p for Heinz Tomato Soup anyone?

I read a report several years ago that said you can add 2 years to the use-by date of canned vegetables. It's the texture & flavour that suffer - they don't immediately become poisonous as soon as their time is up! So if you don't mind your canned veg tasting a bit over-soft, then just eat it - it won't kill you! By the way, I'm a vegetarian, so you'd have to ask someone else about canned meat, fish, milk products, etc.

Goodness 2023 is yesterday and things in tins especially veggies are safe for years.
Decades even, though I might draw a line at that. .

I used a tin of coconut milk yesterday.. dated January 2023... had the curry last night.. which was really really good, even if I say so myself!!
No ill effects.

I wouldn't risk being sick or getting the runs for the price of a tin of tomatoes.

Why does it say reported on a couple of posts.

If it stated 'use by' then no, I would throw it away, if it said 'best before' then yes, I would use it.

Yes, my mother said all would be good if it didn’t have any dents or bulges.

Well as we haven’t heard from Desdemona since she asked the question I hope she’s still with us 😳

You check by pressing the lid of the can and if it " gives " you do not use it . We had a grocer's shop when I was growing up and this is what I did . No use by dates then .

Yes!

Unless the can is blown - bulging both ends - the tomatoes will be fine.

Yes I never used to worry about tinned food …until the date stamps began to appear that is🫤

Yes, safe to eat.

Calendargirl

Reported.

Why?

Reported.

Thanks all - I will open them tomorrow but will check properly first before using.

Yes.

Tomatoes will be fine !

Tinned food will last for years, decades, quite safely.

In 1865 a steam ship called the Bertrand sank in the Missouri river. It was a freighter and had all the supplies, food clothing that inland frontier towns might want. The wreck was discovered in 1968.

In 1974, samples of canned food from the wreck, including brandied peaches, oysters, plum tomatoes, honey, and mixed vegetables, were tested by the National Food Processors Association. Although their appearance, smell, and vitamin content had deteriorated, there was no trace of microbial growth and the food was determined to be still safe to eat.

So I really would not worry about a tin stamped best before August 2023 - or even 1923!!!!!

Dispose of all blown tins whatever the date!

Yes of course they re fine I never bother with dates

I’d use them if the cans are intact.

Yes, they should be fine as the date will be a “best before” rather than a “use by” date I would think. Check the can to ensure there are no bulges or signs of rust. If there are no signs and it’s a BBF date, they will be fine. I opened a can of mackerel fillets in tomato sauce last week that had a best before date of Oct 2023. I checked the can, then smelled them and they were absolutely fine.
I think with BBF dates, the quality might not be quite the same, but otherwise safe to eat, whereas use by dates mean that the food could be dangerous to eat if more than a day or so past that date.

Personally I wouldn’t use it, if it was a few months yes but not over a year.