Is It Safe to Eat Expired Canned Food?

In a worst case scenario, when you have no food left and you only have expired canned food, would you eat it?

We usually store canned food for times of need or when there is no produce. But sometimes when we open the grocery cabinets and take out the precious canned food, we are stunned to see the expiration date. Expired!

What to do?

Here are some guides to help you avoid getting poisoned.

First, understand that expiration date is a recommendation by the manufacturers and mandated by law. It is some sort of guarantee that the food is in tip top optimal form for consumption and that after than date, the manufacturer has no more liability in what happens to the food or to the consumer for that matter. It sounds worse than it seems.

Second, food wouldn’t go bad a day after the expiration date as long as it is in pristine condition. The cans should be stored in a cool dark place.

Third, food usually goes bad if the can is corroded, opened, holed or dented. So the lesson is to inspect cans carefully before purchasing them and make sure there are no superficial damages to the can. Botulism, more popularly known as Botox, is the bacteria present in some very dangerously dented cans. If ingested, like the Botox injection, it numbs the muscle but on the inside of the throat, it causes the person to choke.

Fourth, if the can looks funny, like the top slightly ballooning, throw it.

Fifth, once you open the can, look if there is some bubbling on the water. If there is, throw it away.

Sixth, for the brave-hearted, take a nibble. If it tastes funny, spit it out. Some preppers swear that even ten year old expired stocks are edible though it tastes bland and texture is different.

Seventh, heat it before consuming.

Here’s some more explanation on Expired Canned Food: