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Food

Smoked Salmon out of date

(58 Posts)
DollyD Thu 01-Jan-26 17:26:21

Hello! What do you think?
Just found an unopened pack of Smoked Salmon dated use before 21st December.
Do I risk it or throw?

Vintagegirl Sun 04-Jan-26 14:38:12

I think it would be fine if vacuum packed and still sealed and refridgerated.

Luckygirl3 Sun 04-Jan-26 15:11:39

I'd bin it. I have too many health problems on the go without inviting any more!!

Dempie55 Sun 04-Jan-26 15:20:49

Ooh, I couldn’t bear the waste, but I wouldn’t eat it! I’d give it to my cat, or if no cat, put it outside for the local moggies, if no moggies, chuck it up on the garage roof for the birds!

Cambia Sun 04-Jan-26 15:26:13

Wouldn’t risk a late date with any kind of fish or seafood!

Farzanah Sun 04-Jan-26 16:30:50

It’s odd how the myth persists that if food looks, smells and tastes ok it’s safe to eat. Who would eat food that didn’t? Bacteria and viruses can lurk unannounced in food that doesn’t seem off. Best to take note of best before dates.

Mel1967 Sun 04-Jan-26 16:38:50

Anything out of date I always ask my OH to try first.
If he says it’s ok then we eat it 😂

Skye17 Sun 04-Jan-26 16:44:30

Farzanah 100% agree.

OP, I’m glad you threw it out, as I was once really ill after eating some smoked salmon that was only two days out of date. It tasted fine but wasn’t.

GoodAfternoonTea Sun 04-Jan-26 16:56:35

Bin it. I had some feta cheese opened 2 days ago and still in date which smelled of old feet. I threw it out.

MaizieD Sun 04-Jan-26 16:58:02

Best to take note of best before dates.

Best Before dates do not mean 'this will kill you if you eat it a day over the BB date' . They just imply that the item will be in optimum condition until that date.

Use By dates should be taken more seriously, though even they have a wider margin of safety.

Smoking is a very old method of food preservation which works by creating conditions under which bacteria cannot live in the foodstuff.

If the salmon was still in its sealed packet and had been kept in the fridge I would have eaten it without any worry. If it had been opened and part used I would have binned it as opening it could expose it to harmful bacteria.

While Best Before and Use By dates probably do contribute to fewer episodes of food poisoning, they also contribute to a great deal of food waste with food being discarded the minute they pass the dates when in fact, they'd be fine to eat a day later.

We have to be sensible about them.

sharon103 Sun 04-Jan-26 17:33:54

Sarnia

Chucking it out will be preferable to chucking it up.

Yes.
Throw it. No way would I chance fish or meat.

Desdemona Sun 04-Jan-26 18:11:14

I would chance it if just a day or 2 out of date but that is too much for it to be worth the risk.

I may have put it outside for wildlife possibly.

Fartooold Sun 04-Jan-26 18:48:04

Am glad I am not the only nerd on here! If it says a certain date I will not eat it the following day!
Mind you I would give the cat the salmon!!

Dianehillbilly1957 Sun 04-Jan-26 18:57:29

Bought my other half some for Christmas, dated use by 25/12, but when he opened one was definitely off and the other pack was fine, he ate it and he's still here! But don't think he would have been if he'd eaten the first pack, use your sense of smell and common sense. Next time I won't buy if it's on to use by date. Couldn't find anything with later date.

fancyflowers Sun 04-Jan-26 19:27:04

I'm glad you threw it away. I wouldn't risk out of date fish. It might still smell alright but be harbouring bacteria that you wouldn't want in your body.

Babamaman Sun 04-Jan-26 19:42:02

Totally agree with you!
Everyone is obsessed with these date things!
What did our mums do ? Nah if it smells ok then it is

Farzanah Sun 04-Jan-26 20:14:20

Yes MaisieD You are of course right about “best before” and “use by dates”, and I should have said *use by”.
You are probably right about sealed packs of smoked refrigerated fish too.
What I am concerned about is going by the look, smell and taste alone, which is very unreliable.

Norah Sun 04-Jan-26 20:20:32

Bin it.

DrWatson Mon 05-Jan-26 02:49:57

Threw it away??? Oh dear -- no friends or neighbours with a suitable cat? Or dog perhaps, we've never had one, but I'm told lots of dogs like fish?!

nanna8 Mon 05-Jan-26 03:32:37

Funny but I have the same in my fridge. I feel too nervous about eating it and the cats have turned their noses up ( very fussy pussies ) so I am about to throw it. Shame ,because it cost a fair bit. Maybe the birds would eat it a?

Joplin Mon 05-Jan-26 05:45:55

Amazed that some of you would chance risking the health of animals or wildlife with food that may be “off”. Don’t they need some consideration ? Not as if they might have a vet on hand if they become very ill!

HelterSkelter1 Mon 05-Jan-26 06:42:43

I agree Joplin if it's not safe enough for me it's not safe enough for pets nor wild life.
Bin it and just pretend in your mind youve eaten it. No difference. The money was wasted/spent when you bought it. Trying to think of the name of the theory that explains this is defeating my brain this morning despite 2 coffees.

I think you have binned it so this thread can go to bed now.

lemsip Mon 05-Jan-26 11:20:26

Throw it out you can die from food poisoning you know! Is it worth the risk?

welbeck Mon 05-Jan-26 11:35:28

HelterSkelter1
? sunk cost fallacy ?

MaizieD Mon 05-Jan-26 15:47:20

I'm sorry, but I don't understand why people should think that food which has been properly (hygienically?) prepared and sold in sealed packaging would be harbouring bacteria? Where has it got them from?

Casdon Mon 05-Jan-26 16:05:04

Smoked salmon contains bacteria from the off MaizieD, because generally it is not cooked, it is cold smoked. The bacteria can include listeria, which is why vulnerable people should not eat it. Hot-smoked salmon is obviously safer.