The Food Drive

With all the recalls and food safety issues that have come up recently, here is one other little secret about the food you eat: Cans don’t expire. Other than the sell by dates for dairy and meat, dates placed on shelf-stable products, including cans, only indicate a manufacturer’s guaranteed quality. Up to the time printed on the can, the manufacturer has determined the taste/consistency/etc. of the product is as good as it can be. After the date, things start to deteriorate, but not at the expense of actual food safety. So, if the cans or packaging are not compromised (rust on the lids, major dents in the sidewall or seam) they are perfectly fine to consume.