Yes, I was a tad bit horrified when I realized that a jar of baby food I almost bought for my son expired in 2007. 2007! That's 3 years ago, people. (And yes, I promptly walked up to the front of the store and told everyone who would listen at customer service!)
Related: Put this healthy (and fun!) thing on your to-do list for the week!
But that wasn't all: A can of condensed milk I was looking at also expired 6 months ago.
OK, yes, recently expired canned/jarred foods probably aren't going to kill us, but there's a reason why food comes with expiration dates: freshness and taste often takes a nosedive after the sell-by date and nutrients can drop off too. And for some products (hello condensed milk!), an expired date could mean a health risk.
I know, checking expiration dates is a no-brainer, but I think so many of us are in a hurry at the store and blindly assume that if it's on the shelf it's all good. And, sadly, that's not always the case--even at the best, most health-conscious grocery stores.
Happy, healthy shopping my dears!
P.S. Funny story: When I was about 13, my grandma pulled out a box of gingerbread spice cake mix from her cupboard that was stamped with the date "1972." Can you believe that? I shyly told her, and she tossed it. Whew!
Can you even imagine?
