Expiration date quandry

jessilikewhoa · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:28 pm

So I went to put my carob Rice Dream in the fridge, and checked the expiration date since it had been in my pantry for awhile. It has a best by date of FEB 4 of this year. It's unopened, in a sealed Tetrapak, do you think it's ok?

I want it really bad. Help!

vegimator · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:29 pm

I'd eat it.

jessilikewhoa · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:30 pm

If I get one more "I'd eat it" (or drink it, or however you choose to tell me to NOM it) I'm sticking it in the fridge and doing a happy dance.

keen_on_quinoa · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:32 pm

I'd totally drink it! If you start to drink it and it's gone bad, you'll know. But I highly doubt that it has.

jessilikewhoa · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:33 pm

Hooray! Putting it in the fridge!

ijustdiedinside · **Joined:** Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 8542

does it say sell by, best by or expires on?

pandacookie · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:39 pm

We drank a vitasoy peppermint choc soymilk that was 2 years old this week. Ain't no thang.

jessilikewhoa · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:46 pm

Best by.

Also, I was super mad when they stopped making the Vitasoy peppermint chocolate soymilk. That stuff is amazing, of course, I can't have soy or chocolate anymore, so it's a moot point, but my heart breaks for others who are being deprived. That was my favorite thing about the holidays!

Jill · **Posted:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 9:48 pm

Expiration dates on most packaged, non-perishable food don't mean much. It's perfectly safe.

Arisaig · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:29 am

I'd drink it, too.

For things that are truly perishable, like those bags or boxes of mixed greens, the best before date is usually when they will turn to mush. For other things, like tetra packs, that are sterile-sealed, there is a much longer window. N.B. This is not necessarily scientific fact, just what I have decided over the years, and I go on a case by case basis.

kdub · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:28 am

Drink it. There is a discount store that I've been to that sells all kinds of "expired" things like this. I would just make sure to drink it within the 7-10 days of opening.

Beanitarian · **Joined:** Sun Jan 16, 2011 6:40 pm **Posts:** 770

After have some foods turn weird, I pay more attention to the best by dates these days. It probably won't kill you, but be aware that it might not be as good as when it was fresh. If there's anything that seems off about it, just toss it.

linanil · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 11:45 am

pandacookie wrote:

We drank a vitasoy peppermint choc soymilk that was 2 years old this week. Ain't no thang.

It was closer to 3 years old. And it was delicious.

Lachesis · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:45 pm

jessilikewhoa wrote:

Best by.

Also, I was super mad when they stopped making the Vitasoy peppermint chocolate soymilk. That stuff is amazing, of course, I can't have soy or chocolate anymore, so it's a moot point, but my heart breaks for others who are being deprived. That was my favorite thing about the holidays!

They stopped making it?? I ordered five of them online in January. I only have one left. This makes me sad!

jessilikewhoa · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:51 pm

Whaaaaaaaat? It wasn't in my store last Christmas, and I emailed them and they said they stopped making all soy milk. Maybe they started again? I need to get to the bottom of this, as I would make a one time exception to my Dr's no soy or chocolate rule for one more time with the Vitasoy peppermint chocolate.

jessilikewhoa · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 12:54 pm

I found this blog post, so it looks like discontinued in the US, but not Canada?
http://getsconedpdx.com/2009/11/30/choc ... ntvitasoy/

rocklobster · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:21 pm

yeah i stock up hard on the nog and peppermint in winter. fork the expiration date, youll know if its not tasty!

Lachesis · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 1:31 pm

jessilikewhoa wrote:

I found this blog post, so it looks like discontinued in the US, but not Canada?
http://getsconedpdx.com/2009/11/30/choc ... ntvitasoy/

Aw, man. That stinks. I wonder if we can order it online from a Canadian based store when the holidays roll around? I'm going to make sure to super enjoy the one remaining carton I have.

I ordered mine from Pangea and they had plenty (at the time anyway). I discovered it this fall when I found some in my local grocery store. Weird. I wonder if these were just the last ones showing up? After I saw it at my grocery store once I never saw it there again.

Oh well.

rabidchild · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 5:47 pm

It's aseptic. It'll last forever.

ijustdiedinside · **Joined:** Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:43 pm **Posts:** 8542

jessilikewhoa wrote:

Best by.

Also, I was super mad when they stopped making the Vitasoy peppermint chocolate soymilk. That stuff is amazing, of course, I can't have soy or chocolate anymore, so it's a moot point, but my heart breaks for others who are being deprived. That was my favorite thing about the holidays!

everyone else has already said it's fine, but best by just means that it will taste freshest by that date, so something might go off like the color or something, but it's perfectly safe.

graffiti · **Joined:** Wed Oct 20, 2010 11:53 pm **Posts:** 1564

Jill wrote:

Expiration dates on most packaged, non-perishable food don't mean much. It's perfectly safe.

It's true. I actually think it was a discussion on the PPK that lead me to do some research on the whole dates-on-things. I read a bunch of articles that said it's not even the law (except for some stuff like milk and eggs in certain states)

Quote:

Most Dates Are Voluntary
With exception of certain poultry, baby food products and formulas most all other food product expiration dates are not required by federal law but are voluntarily provided by food manufacturers. This does vary from state to state and many states legislate sell-by dates for perishable foods. According to several sources including the USDA there are 20 states that require some mandatory labeling for dairy products. So far we know that Arizona, California, Ohio, and New York have some labeling laws. (Read about California's milk labeling law)

Dates Are Guidelines
On the most part dates are provided as guidelines for both product sellers and the buying public. Most dates are NOT expiration dates; you are not going to get sick because you eat something past its "best by" date. Some dates have become marketing devices for product manufactures. A good example of this are dates that are appearing on soft drinks. There really is not much to expire with a beverage made of water, sugar, and artificial coloring. This is one of those cases where the manufacturer appears to just be encouraging you to throw it out and buy more.

http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/Articles/N ... dates.aspx

Just trust your gut! If it smells or tastes funny...throw it out!

bluedawg · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:04 pm

pandacookie wrote:

We drank a vitasoy peppermint choc soymilk that was 2 years old this week. Ain't no thang.

*dies of envy*

boychucker · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 12:46 am

I have tempeh that says "sell by May 7". I think it might be okay.What say the PPK?

Rubella · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 1:22 am

I'd totally eat that tempeh.

allularpunk · **Posted:** Wed May 18, 2011 9:27 am

yeah, tempeh is fermented, it just gets better with age. (right? someone else on here told me that once.)

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