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Using Pack IT Gourmet meals past the use by dates.
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Home › Forums › General Forums › Food, Hydration, and Nutrition › Using Pack IT Gourmet meals past the use by dates.
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Jun 20, 2014 at 6:24 pm #1318176
Folks,
I have some Pack It Gourmet meals that are between 3-6 months past their use by dates, I called Pack IT and they said they should be fine to
Eat once stored in a cool dry place.Just wanted to hear what Bpl folk think about whether to bring these on trips over the summer or to just replace them.
Jun 20, 2014 at 8:03 pm #2113248I guess you know that most plastic or foil and plastic packages are not really intended for long-term storage. That's why they tend to have use by date of a year out, or possibly two years at the very most.
A #10 metal can is different. You can get food sealed that way, and it is almost good forever. Several months ago I opened a can of freeze dried egg powder and have eaten some of it. I don't know exactly how old it is, but I know that I purchased it in a store in 1980.
–B.G.–
Jun 20, 2014 at 8:40 pm #2113261I came across a very good sale on mountain house meals and bought a lot. The ones with a clear bag inside the foil pouch. Anyway by the time I used them up some were a couple years (2+) passed the expire date. They took alot longer to rehydrate, some stayed crunchy but still tasted fine. I didn't get sick.
ymmvJun 21, 2014 at 6:24 am #2113300Thanks for the replies.
I think I will try one at home and see how it works out :-)
My next post may be from the loo ;-)
Jun 21, 2014 at 8:19 am #2113327They should be fine. As long as they were sealed they have been in a controlled environment. And once opened, just give it the sniff test. Dried food lasts a lot longer than one thinks it would.
Jun 21, 2014 at 8:21 am #2113329Cheers Sarah :-)
The sniff test sounds like a good idea.
Jun 21, 2014 at 10:21 pm #2113537Scientific. I swear ;-)
Jun 21, 2014 at 10:30 pm #2113538use by date is more about how the food appears, or nutrition
not whether it's safe to eat
so if you don't mind eating it, it should be okay
Jun 22, 2014 at 8:57 am #2113600Hi Sarah,
It does sound like a scientific test indeed :-)
Hi Jerry,
That's good to know.
Jun 22, 2014 at 8:21 pm #2113808As Jerry said the "Use by dates" are not about safety. There are only two foods in the US that the FDA requires a "Use by date", baby formula and baby food. All others are at the discretion of the manufacturer. It really is a great marketing tool for the manufacturer because so many people are afraid to use after the date and throwout perfectly good food and then buy more. The Army ran an ad campaign to convince the wives living on bases to stop throwing out past date food.
Jun 22, 2014 at 8:24 pm #2113811Jun 23, 2014 at 6:20 am #2113856I had some of the tortilla soup yesterday for lunch while I was working out some kinks with my cookset at home. It expired May 2013. I'm still here…not sick…
Jun 23, 2014 at 7:47 am #2113868All very good info.
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