Wow, those guys were extremely lucky to find it in time!
But seriously, there are so many idiotic expiration dates. Like all dry goods as sugar, spices, camping food a.s.o.; everything contained in a can is basically indestructible; vinnegar etc
So a plastic container, that needs like 100 years to disintegrate, will blow up after a year?
And I don't know how this is legally treated where you live, but here it's always the goods. A can doesn't dissolve in 18 months, honey jars will be there long after I've passed and that plastic bucket for the salt will be as new when our children find it.
So a few things:
1. In many countries all food goods are required to have a “best by” or “expiration” date on them. They found Honey that is still edible from ancient Egypt but....
2. Just because a type of food can keep for a long time, doesn’t mean it will. The conditions in a sealed tomb in the desert are not likely the same as in your home. Food containers which are opened and handled, exposed to air and contamination, moisture, temperatures etc. can spoil even if the type of food isn’t easily spoiled. Likewise- often times what is in your home isn’t what you’d find in nature. Many types of “honey” contain little or ever no actual honey. Most salts are treated or iodized. It isn’t the food exactly that goes bad in some cases, but the additives may go bad. They also may attract or foster growth of harmful organisms that doesn’t occur in the natural state of the food, or compounds may spectate or break down over time, meaning the base food COULD likely be separated and reused...
... still, but as it would sit in your kitchen after 10 years you may not want to or be safe consuming it without re processing or recovery. Also keep in mind that many types of food are treated to meet the sterilization requirements to be used and sold by law. So the date may refer to when the preservative and anti microbial treatments and packaging processes break down. Because....
3. The date isn’t always an “expiration date.” It can reflect when the food is likely to be at the “best” state for consumption by the maker, stale chips or breads are safe to eat- just not pleasant. But more than anything it is a warning- to say: “ok. We are making an assurance that so long as you store and handle this with basic care and safety, you should be fine until this date. After that, it’s up to you and you have to judge for yourself.” Think of cars or electronics with a warranty. Sony doesn’t think your PlayStation will melt after a year. The plastics and what not will last thousands of years..
... the metal has been around for eons and may well be. The year warranty is them saying “ok, we are supplying this thing. It shouldn’t have any problems for a year. It may last long after that. Some PS1, even Atari still work. Many don’t. After the warranty date you don’t have to throw your PlayStation out or panic. But what’s next is on you...” in fact, in many cases of you take food back to a store or manufacturer that what recently purchased, or is advertised as a long shelf life, and can show proper storage- they’ll usually refund or replace the food or equivalent value.
But seriously, there are so many idiotic expiration dates. Like all dry goods as sugar, spices, camping food a.s.o.; everything contained in a can is basically indestructible; vinnegar etc
And I don't know how this is legally treated where you live, but here it's always the goods. A can doesn't dissolve in 18 months, honey jars will be there long after I've passed and that plastic bucket for the salt will be as new when our children find it.
1. In many countries all food goods are required to have a “best by” or “expiration” date on them. They found Honey that is still edible from ancient Egypt but....
2. Just because a type of food can keep for a long time, doesn’t mean it will. The conditions in a sealed tomb in the desert are not likely the same as in your home. Food containers which are opened and handled, exposed to air and contamination, moisture, temperatures etc. can spoil even if the type of food isn’t easily spoiled. Likewise- often times what is in your home isn’t what you’d find in nature. Many types of “honey” contain little or ever no actual honey. Most salts are treated or iodized. It isn’t the food exactly that goes bad in some cases, but the additives may go bad. They also may attract or foster growth of harmful organisms that doesn’t occur in the natural state of the food, or compounds may spectate or break down over time, meaning the base food COULD likely be separated and reused...
3. The date isn’t always an “expiration date.” It can reflect when the food is likely to be at the “best” state for consumption by the maker, stale chips or breads are safe to eat- just not pleasant. But more than anything it is a warning- to say: “ok. We are making an assurance that so long as you store and handle this with basic care and safety, you should be fine until this date. After that, it’s up to you and you have to judge for yourself.” Think of cars or electronics with a warranty. Sony doesn’t think your PlayStation will melt after a year. The plastics and what not will last thousands of years..
Main thing is that people understand that "best before" doesn't mean "poisonous from"