"Ozgirl" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> "W. Baker" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Julie Bove > wrote:
>> : I could be wrong here but I believe you said you either work at a food
>> bank
>> : or have worked at one. If this is true, I have a question. Do they
>> take
>> : expired food? This subject came up on a couponing site where many
>> people
>> : are saying they donate their expired food. But there is one woman
>> there who
>> : works at a food bank and she said they are unable to give it out and
>> have to
>> : just toss it. She said they toss most of the food donated because the
>> cans
>> : are dented or the food is badly expired. Some by as much as years. Yet
>> : there are other people who claim their food bank does take expired food
>> or
>> : that they themselves have gotten expired food from a food bank. I know
>> : there is no universal answer on this and each food bank would be
>> different.
>> : I just would never donate expired food. To me that seems like a mean
>> thing
>> : to do.
>>
>> : Thanks!
>>
>> The food banks I am associated with, both in NYC and Margaretville
>> discard
>> all expired food. I believe that it is the law in NYC. I, myself, have
>> often used slighly outdated food with no harm. Of course, I do examine
>> it
>> to make sure the can and the contents are all OK.
>
>
> Are they expired dates or best by dates? Canned food will last for years
> after best by. Packaged or fresh obviously don't. I have received cans
> past best by date from food banks and nothing wrong with them. Pity the
> rules couldn't be bit more lenient especially for canned foods. I was
> given a bunch of stuff when an aunt died and I made buttermilk pancakes
> from a powdered mix in sachets that were 7 years past the expiry date. I
> lived And the quality was great.

Canned tomatoes can go very bad. I accidentally bought some that were
expired by just a few months. I also had a can that was not expired. I
opened them and compared them. World of difference between them as to color
and texture. I threw them out.