No Expiration Date

[CJD]

I have been looking at expiration dates on food lately. I noticed that the giant container of protein powder that I got at GNC (sweetened with stevia) has no expiration date printed on it. I have also noticed that some things have a "best by" date instead of a "do not use after" date. This makes me think that these items have theoretically unlimited shelf life. So I thought it would be useful to start a list of specific foods that could be stored super-long-term. This list should really only include items that are prepackaged and purchased from a store, not stuff that you make yourself or package yourself. So, as you run across foods with either no expiration date or " best by" dates, add them to the list.

To get things started:

Gold Standard Natural 100% Whey protein powder -made by Optimum Nutrition
No Sugar Added Healthy Harvest blueberry applesauce -made by Motts
Snack Pack Lemon Pudding -made by Hunt's (non refridgerated)

[flight or fight]

No Sugar Added Healthy Harvest blueberry applesauce -made by Motts
Snack Pack Lemon Pudding -made by Hunt's (non refridgerated)

They may not have a date on them but after 26 years in the grocery industry i can tell you they will not last over a year and a half before going bad.

[CJD]

No Sugar Added Healthy Harvest blueberry applesauce -made by Motts
Snack Pack Lemon Pudding -made by Hunt's (non refridgerated)

They may not have a date on them but after 26 years in the grocery industry i can tell you they will not last over a year and a half before going bad.

Really? So how can they get away with not putting a date on something that will go bad? I don't do it often, or intentionally, but I sometimes leave something in my camping supplies for a long time without realizing it. Other than it being obviously bad when you open it, how would you know not to eat it without a date? That also makes me wonder, do any packaged foods have long enough shelf lives to be OK to store beyond a couple of years?

[Rustyshakelford]

Really? So how can they get away with not putting a date on something that will go bad? I don't do it often, or intentionally, but I sometimes leave something in my camping supplies for a long time without realizing it. Other than it being obviously bad when you open it, how would you know not to eat it without a date? That also makes me wonder, do any packaged foods have long enough shelf lives to be OK to store beyond a couple of years?

They sell stuff at Big Lots and the other discount places like that. My theory is, No date, no purchase. It could already be expired and swimming with Mexican poop making microbes. No way!!! From a guy who has had a case of the Hersheys squirts within the last 2 months, I can recommend that you not buy it. Or, you break into your SHTF toilet paper supply.

[lazer128]

They sell stuff at Big Lots and the other discount places like that. My theory is, No date, no purchase. It could already be expired and swimming with Mexican poop making microbes. No way!!! From a guy who has had a case of the Huersheys squirts within the last 2 months, I can recommend that you not buy it. Or, you break into your SHTF toilet paper supply.

I tend to agree with Rusty. I am reluctant to buy anything that is not dated. And if you so end up with the squirts, Brosia has hooked us up with a site that says you can make tea from pines that will fix you right up. (See the thread about making aspirin from trees. Very good site.)

[Brosia]

LMFAO~!! getting totally off topic here, but as I read about Rusty's Hershey squirts, I was eating a Hershey chocolate bar.

I have thrown it in the garbage now.


I won't buy anything without a clear-cut expiration date. No matter how good the deal.

[Zombie Axe]

LOL Brosia:D

[flight or fight]

Really? So how can they get away with not putting a date on something that will go bad? I don't do it often, or intentionally, but I sometimes leave something in my camping supplies for a long time without realizing it. Other than it being obviously bad when you open it, how would you know not to eat it without a date? That also makes me wonder, do any packaged foods have long enough shelf lives to be OK to store beyond a couple of years?

Not trying to rain on your parade but most manufactuers use a code date now so the general public can not see when the item expires. Also when they sell closeouts and overruns to places like BigLots most of the time there is a reason (ex: forgot to date or quality control) and at the cheap prices they figure it will be gone before it can become a problem or the problem will be blamed on the store not the manufactuer.

The things with a really long dates you can buy at a store are usually dehydrated items or powdered items like eggs or milk. Canned items usually get a year from manufacture and as long as the seal isn't broken will last for a couple of years if the can is lined inside.

[methusaleh]

I used to be a regional manager (known as "SSM") for GNC. One day I was worried about a lot of my stores having dusty product that may be expired, so I spent hours on the phone with the manufacturers figuring out date codes.

Most things ARE coded, but you need to know how to decipher it! TwinLab, for instance, was pretty easy once you learned it (I have since forgotten it; it's been 10 years since I worked at GNC).

[codyleeamrhein]

honey will not spoil

[sd allen]

Tuna ,dated 06 will leave a metalic after taste,but no squirts!!!It's been 3 days so I think I'm good!!

[Big_Saw]

honey will not spoil

Hey, Cody.....welcome to the forums....howzabout headin' over to the intro boards and telling us about yourself.....;)

[kimber45]

Canned peanuts dont have experation dates.I just opened a can i have had for several years still ok.

[snal]

I've been researching dry beans. Seems as though they will last for several years. Problem is they do require long cook times.
I did start reading somewhere that if the beans were so old that they wouldn't cook up soft, then they could be ground into powder for.....?????

[Big_Saw]

I've been researching dry beans. Seems as though they will last for several years. Problem is they do require long cook times.
I did start reading somewhere that if the beans were so old that they wouldn't cook up soft, then they could be ground into powder for.....?????

Veggie-style patties, maybe? Add a little beef broth and fry it up?