If you go into virtually every kitchen, you might find a can of beans, soup, or veggies that someone forgot about sitting in the back of a cupboard and collecting dust. You might glance at the label, observe that the date has passed, and decide to discard it out of caution. But is that truly needed? Is it really dangerous to eat canned food that has gone stale, or is this just one of those areas of food storage that people don’t understand? Most people think that the truth is less useful and more wasteful than it really is.
Most of us think that the dates on food packaging are cautions about safety, but that’s not always true for canned food. The date you see—whether it reads “Best By,” “Best Before,” or “Sell By”—is usually about how good the food is, not how safe it is. The maker chose these dates to show how long the product should taste, feel, and look its finest. After that date, the food may slowly lose quality, but in most situations, it is still safe to eat.
There are a lot of different kinds of dates used on food labels, and most consumers don’t know what each one represents. This is probably why there is so much misunderstanding. A “Sell By” date helps stores keep track of their stock. A “Best By” or “Best Before” date indicates to the customer when the product is likely to be at its best. A “Use By” date is more important and is commonly used for things that go bad quickly, such as dairy or meat. It’s not often used for canned foods. And even then, “Use By” isn’t usually a strict safety date.
One of the best things about canned food is that it lasts a long time. These items are meant to last a long time, far longer than most people think, because the can is sealed and disinfected. Most canned foods will stay safe to eat for 1 to 5 years beyond the date on the can, and sometimes even longer if they are stored in a cool, dry pantry that doesn’t get too hot, too cold, or too much sunshine.
Canned beans, maize, potatoes, carrots, chicken, beef, and tuna are examples of low-acid foods that can last for up to five years or more. That’s because they are less acidic, which means that the chemicals inside the can react more slowly. Foods having a lot of acid, like tomatoes, pineapple, or citrus fruits, may start to go stale sooner, usually between 12 and 18 months beyond the expiration date. But even then, a lot of these things are still safe as long as the can is still intact.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that canned food can stay safe to consume forever as long as the can isn’t broken. There shouldn’t be any rust, swelling, leaks, or big dents, especially along the seams where the can is sealed. The food inside the can stays safe from bacteria and deterioration as long as it’s still whole.
There are, however, several noteworthy exceptions. If a can is bulging, it can mean that germs like Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism, have grown within and let forth gas. This situation is quite risky, so you shouldn’t open the can. If a can is leaking or has obvious rust, the seal may have been broken, which means that air—and even deadly bacteria—could have gotten in. Deep dents, especially those on the top or bottom seams, might also make the can less safe.
Before you consume, always check the smell, color, and texture of the food in the can. Don’t taste something that smells sour, metallic, rotten, or just “off.” Instead, toss it away. If the food looks or tastes strange, or if there is a sudden rush of liquid or foam, it’s also a sign that something is wrong. When anything feels off, trust your gut and be careful. But don’t think something is awful just because it has a date on it.
Every year, a huge amount of food goes to waste because people don’t grasp expiration dates. Environmental and food safety groups report the unnecessary discarding of billions of pounds of quality food. This not only costs families money, but it also causes bigger problems like overflowing landfills, methane emissions, and food poverty. People often throw away perfectly excellent canned foods because they think “Best By” dates mean they are no longer safe to eat.
Learning more about food labels not only helps cut down on waste, but it also saves you money. Using what you have, stretching your cupboard supplies, and not going to the store for things you don’t need are all simple things that add up over time. It could also be quite helpful to know how long canned foods really last in an emergency or when there isn’t enough food.
Don’t toss away an old can right away the next time you find one in the back of your pantry. Look at it, know what the date means, and utilize your senses. You might even use that forgotten can for your next dinner. When you stop throwing away things that are over their expiration date, you’re not only conserving food, but you’re also making a little, important step toward living more sustainably and wisely.