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It is not new, been around for decades.....but apparently, a lot of people clench tightly to it. So where does it come from?
There's belief, and there's fact. Who knows why someone believes what they do? Maybe their mother also believed it.
As for fact, canned foods don't have "expiration" dates. They may have a "best used by" date printed on them. It's more of a quality issue. IME, people who can at home date those foods.
Now if a can has no other signs of trouble (bulging, rust, leaking, badly dented, stored improperly) it doesn't really expire. The quality of the contents will deteriorate slowly over time.
Canned foods don't have "expiration" dates. They may have a "best used by" date printed on them. It's more of a quality issue. Home canned goods should probably be dated.
Now if a can has no other signs of trouble (bulging, rust, leaking, badly dented, stored improperly) it doesn't really expire. The quality of the contents will deteriorate slowly over time.
The only food I have seen that really deteriorates by the BB date is evaporated milk. At the food shelf where I volunteer, we accept food up to one year past the BB date, with a few exceptions. Well, actually, we accept all food (and say Thank you) but only give out food one year past the BB date.
I have noticed manufacturers are extending the BB dates and some put on "packed on" dates. Let the customer make their own decision.
Still, there seems to be an attitude of many people of, "This date is past. It's bad. Chuck it.". Where, what causes this attitude?
Well, what gives rise to your attitudes and beliefs about things OP? Could be anything from not understanding what a "use by" date means to some treasured family fable about Uncle Joe upchucking in the bathroom at a potluck after eating clam chowder!
Last edited by Parnassia; 08-06-2022 at 06:20 PM..
It is not new, been around for decades.....but apparently, a lot of people clench tightly to it. So where does it come from?
I've never really gone too much by "BB" dates as anything more than a suggestion, my daughter on the other hand freaks out over them for some reason. We have had more than one disagreement over whether or not some can or jar needs to be thrown out because it's past date. I raised her so I don't know where she gets it from, maybe it stems from the common misuse of the outdated term 'expiration date'.
I don't think I've bought a single can of food that was so expensive that I would risk eating something past its prime just to save a few dollars. I've actually cut back on buying canned foods to "stock up" in general, so I only get what I'm planning to use within the next month or two.
Make your emergency food stash last longer by keeping your cans in the refrigerator. Plus the refrigerator cycles less the more mass that's inside. I just think keeping them cool must slow any degradation.
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Originally Posted by TamaraSavannah
It is not new, been around for decades.....but apparently, a lot of people clench tightly to it. So where does it come from?
Expiration dates appeared on things the very second that someone figured out they could make more money that way.
People believe it because marketing wants them to and work diligently towards that end. Some people haven't lived long enough to remember when canned food and other things did not have expiration dates and no one ever got sick because of it. Perfectly good food and other things are being thrown in the trash because they have been taught to believe it "expired" two hours ago.
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Well, what gives rise to your attitudes and beliefs about things OP? Could be anything from not understanding what a "use by" date means to some treasured family fable about Uncle Joe upchucking in the bathroom at a potluck after eating clam chowder!
