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Expired supplies can become toxic

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Category: Coronavirus Pandemic: Prepping Forums
Forum Name: General Prepping Tips
Forum Description: (Home and family preparedness)
URL: http://www.avianflutalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=21318
Printed Date: March 28 2024 at 3:33am


Topic: Expired supplies can become toxic
Posted By: Albert
Subject: Expired supplies can become toxic
Date Posted: November 01 2008 at 9:53am
I just want to give some people around here a heads-up with regard to consuming expired preps.  We've all heard that expired pancake mix becomes toxic after it expires.  Another one to possibly add to the list is expired "dry" coffee creamer.   I purchased some back in 2005 during the prepping craze, and I recently decided to try using it.  Well, about 30 days ago, I tried it, it tasted and look good, but, it damn near killed me.   I was pretty much laid up for a week, and I'm not all that easy to bring down, lol.   From a high temperature, to my intestines aching, it was not fun. 
 
Anyway, if anyone is storing any old dry coffee creamer from the old days, I would get rid of it.
 
Best,
Albert 



Replies:
Posted By: homescoolmama
Date Posted: November 01 2008 at 10:45am
I have some coffeemate - keep it in cool dark dry space, never been opened...expiry couple of months...should I toss, have 2 huge ones


Posted By: Albert
Date Posted: November 01 2008 at 10:56am
Mine were also kept dry, cool, and of course were never opened.  I would say to use them now if you're going to use them at all.  I'm sure it's still fine.  My "coffeemate"was around 10-12 months past the expiration date, going back to when I first bought it back in November, 2005.  What can I say .... I wanted to know.   


Posted By: jacksdad
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 9:23am
Kind of off topic (wow - expired pancake mix is really that bad?), it is important to make sure you know how to store preps, especially if you're storing in a low oxygen environment. Botulism spores, for example, can only germinate and grow in the absence of air. Home canned food should be heated properly to kill microorganisms - with altitude taken into consideration as it affects the boiling point of water -  while mold can spoil dried preps, even if it's sealed and flushed with nitrogen or with oxygen absorbers added, if the moisture content is too high. It would be a tragedy to have food stored only to open it when you really need it and realize it's gone bad, or worse still, get very sick when medical services are overwhelmed by a pandemic. 

-------------
"Buy it cheap. Stack it deep"
"Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong." Michael Leavitt, HHS Secretary.


Posted By: Albert
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 9:56am
A warning about outdated pancake mix

02:55 PM PDT on Friday, June 16, 2006

By JEAN ENERSEN / KING 5 News

If you're highly allergic, especially to mold, there's one hazard you might not have even considered: outdated pancake mix.

DMN

Before making pancakes with a mix, it's a good idea to check the expiration date.

Doctors say many people leave pancake mix in their cupboards way too long, and that's dangerous. If the mix sits too long in a cupboard without being properly sealed, the mix begins growing mold. If a person has a specific allergy to certain molds, then it could make them really sick, or kill them by anaphylaxis.

"If a person an individual has specific allergy to certain molds then this could make them real sick it could be lethal in some cases," said Dr. Paul Pepe, emergency room physician. 

"Swelling that occurs in the lungs in the throat in the face in the skin people will have swollen lips enlarged tongue and they start having some dramatic breathing problems.

"A lot of the molds that might develop in a pancake mix for example are like bread molds or wheat molds that may occur it's more likely to happen in an environment to humidity or dampness." So, what can you do to make sure mold doesn't grow on your pancake mix?
Experts say to keep it sealed in a jar and always check the expiration date on the box.
Some red flags are a strange smell or taste; they indicate some nasty molds in the mix.  Experts say when in doubt throw it out.  

Loretta Carlo loads her pancake mix in a sealed jar and always checks the expiration date after a bad experience.

"All of a sudden I did get a pancake mix where I had bought it and when I opened it up it didn't look right and then when I looked at the expiration date it was an expired one so I took it back to the store and they said, "yeah get a different one.’"

Five years ago a South Carolina man died after eating pancakes from a mix that was two years old. But he also was highly allergic to mold. People who aren't allergic are not at risk.

Still, it's never a good idea to keep food long past its expiration date.

http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_061606HEnbc_pancakemoldEL.91b47f94.html - http://www.king5.com/health/stories/NW_061606HEnbc_pancakemoldEL.91b47f94.html


Posted By: Albert
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 9:59am
Here's another old story ....
 
 
WARNING ABOUT Pancake Mix (and other boxed mixes) Maybe you already know this, I DID NOT!!

Throw away ALL OUTDATED pancake mix you have in your home, PLEASE! If you don't believe me, read this article and then follow the 'Link' below to SNOPES. Sorry to be the Grim Reaper of bad news, but I would rather have you ALIVE, besides a $2.00 box of pancake mix is NOT worth your life. P. S. You might want to tell this to your children, grandchildren, nephews, nieces and anyone else who keeps pancake mix in the cupboard.

From Snopes: Dear Abby: I recently made a batch of pancakes for my healthy 14-year-old son, using a mix that was in our pantry. He said that they tasted 'funny,' but ate them anyway. About 10 minutes later, he began having difficulty breathing and his lips began turning purple. I gave him his allergy pill, had him sit on the sofa and told him to relax. He was wheezing while inhaling and exhaling.

My husband, a volunt eer Firefighter and EMT, heated up some water, and we had my son lean over the water so the steam could clear his chest and sinuses. Soo n, his breathing became more regular and his lips returned to a more normal color. We checked the date on the box of pancake mix and, to my dismay, found it was very outdated. As a reference librarian at an academic institution, I have the ability to search through many research databases. I did just that, and found an article the next day that mentioned a 19-year-old male DYING after eating pancakes made with outdated mix. Apparently, the mold that forms in old pancake mix can be toxic!

When we told our friends about my son's close call, we were surprise! d at the number of people who mentioned that they should check their own pancake mix since they don't use i t often, or they had purchased it some time a go. With so many people shopping at warehouse-type stores and buying large sizes of pancake mix, I hope your readers will take the time to check the expiration date on their boxes.

Also, beware of outdated Bisquick, cake, brownie and cookie mixes.

htt file:///p:// - p:// http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/pancake.asp - www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/pancake.asp



Posted By: jacksdad
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 12:09pm
Damn - thanks for that one, A. Who'd have thought?

-------------
"Buy it cheap. Stack it deep"
"Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong." Michael Leavitt, HHS Secretary.


Posted By: Albert
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 2:45pm
No problem Jacksdad.  I hope the information is useful.   We used to have a lot of people on a here a few years ago when everyone was stockpiling.  Let's hope that too many people aren't keeling over from eating their old mixes from back then.  


Posted By: Albert
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 4:40pm
More Expiration Dates.  Interesting to note that unopened Mayo has an indefinite Shelf life 
 
 
Food

Beer
Unopened: 4 months.

Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moisture proof container in a cool, dry place.

Chocolate (Hershey bar)
1 year from production date

Coffee, canned ground
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated

Coffee, gourmet
Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container

Coffee, instant
Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month

Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)
Unopened: 3 months from "best by" date.
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.

Dried pasta
12 months

Frozen dinners
Unopened: 12 to 18 months

Frozen vegetables
Unopened: 18 to 24 months
Opened: 1 month

Honey
Indefinite shelf life

Juice, bottled (apple or cranberry)
Unopened: 8 months from production date
Opened: 7 to 10 days

Ketchup
Unopened: 1 year (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened or used: 4 to 6 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Maple syrup, real or imitation
1 year

Maraschino cherries
Unopened: 3 to 4 years
Opened: 2 weeks at room temperature; 6 months refrigerated

Marshmallows
Unopened: 40 weeks
Opened: 3 months

Mayonnaise
Unopened: Indefinitely
Opened: 2 to 3 months from “purchase by” date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Mustard
2 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Olives, jarred (green with pimento)
Unopened: 3 years
Opened: 3 months

Olive oil
2 years from manufacture date (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Peanuts
Unopened: 1 to 2 years unless frozen or refrigerated
Opened: 1 to 2 weeks in airtight container

Peanut butter, natural
9 months

Peanut butter, processed (Jif)
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 6 months; refrigerate after 3 months

Pickles
Unopened: 18 months
Opened: No conclusive data. Discard if slippery or excessively soft.

Protein bars (Power Bars)

Unopened: 10 to 12 months. Check "best by" date on the package.

Rice, white
2 years from date on box or date of purchase

Salad dressing, bottled
Unopened: 12 months after "best by" date
Opened: 9 months refrigerated

Soda, regular
Unopened: In cans or glass bottles, 9 months from "best by" date
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected

Steak sauce
33 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Tabasco
5 years, stored in a cool, dry place

Tea bags (Lipton)
Use within 2 years of opening the package

Tuna, canned
Unopened: 1 year from purchase date
Opened: 3 to 4 days, not stored in can

Soy sauce, bottled
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 3 months (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)

Vinegar
42 months

Wine (red, white)
Unopened: 3 years from vintage date; 20 to 100 years for fine wines
Opened: 1 week refrigerated and corked

Worcestershire sauce
Unopened: 5 to 10 years (After this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume.)
Opened: 2 years

Household Products

Air freshener, aerosol
2 years

Antifreeze, premixed
1 to 5 years

Antifreeze, concentrate
Indefinite

Batteries, alkaline
7 years

Batteries, lithium
10 years

Bleach
3 to 6 months

Dish detergent, liquid or powdered
1 year

Fire extinguisher, rechargeable
Service or replace every 6 years

Fire extinguisher, non-rechargeable

12 years

Laundry detergent, liquid or powdered
Unopened: 9 months to 1 year
Opened: 6 months

Metal polish (silver, copper, brass)
At least 3 years

Miracle Gro, liquid
Opened: 3 to 8 years

Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble
Indefinite

Motor oil
Unopened: 2 to 5 years
Opened: 3 months

Mr. Clean
2 years

Paint
Unopened: Up to 10 years
Opened: 2 to 5 years

Spray paint
2 to 3 years

Windex
2 years

Wood polish (Pledge)
2 years

Beauty Products
All dates are from the manufacture date, which is either displayed on the packaging or can be obtained by calling the manufacturer's customer-service number.

Bar soap
18 months to 3 years

Bath gel, body wash
3 years

Bath oil
1 year

Body bleaches and depilatories
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 6 months

Body lotion
3 years

Conditioner
2 to 3 years

Deodorant
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 1 to 2 years
For antiperspirants, see expiration date

Eye cream
Unopened: 3 years
Used: 1 year

Face lotion
With SPF, see expiration date. All others, at least 3 years

Foundation, oil-based
2 years

Foundation, water-based
3 years

Hair gel
2 to 3 years

Hair spray
2 to 3 years

Lip balm
Unopened: 5 years
Used: 1 to 5 years

Lipstick
2 years

Mascara
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 3 to 4 months

Mouthwash
Three years from manufacture date

Nail polish
1 year

Nail-polish remover
Lasts indefinitely

Perfume
1 to 2 years

Rubbing alcohol
At least 3 years

Shampoo
2 to 3 years

Shaving cream
2 years or more

Tooth-whitening strips
13 months

Wash'n Dri moist wipes
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: Good until dried out

 

Beauty Supplies Expiration Dates

Anti-aging and acne treatment
Three months to a year. Antioxidants are easily oxidized, so be on the lookout for any changes in color.

Body lotion
Two to three years, particularly if it’s in a pump container.

Shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel
About three years.

Bath oil
One year.

Sunscreen
Check the package for an expiration date.

Mascara and liquid eyeliner
Three to four months. Make sure you’re diligent about replacing these items to prevent contamination and infections.

Eye and lip pencils
Three to five years. Sharpen them before each use as a way to preserve them and keep them clean.

Lipstick and lip gloss
Two to three years.

Foundation
About two years. Most bottles are designed to last that long. And if you don’t use it, chances are you didn’t love it to begin with.

Perfume
About two years. To get more mileage out of a perfume, resist the temptation to display a pretty bottle on your vanity. Instead, stash it away in a cool, dark place.

Nail polish
One year.

Hairstyling products
Three to five years. Most are alcohol-based, which helps preserve the formula.

Bar soap
Up to three years.

Shaving cream
About two years.

Deodorant
Up to two years.



Posted By: Tadeo
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 9:29pm
My kid wanted a can of fruit cocktail and so I gave it to him.  It tasted okay but it looked somewhat aged.  It expired in 2005.
 
Albert, what about canned food?  In your readings did you come across any of that info?
 
Add to edit:  Why did cocktail come up like that?  Oh, I got it know, never mind.


Posted By: starspirit
Date Posted: November 02 2008 at 9:36pm
wow Albert thanks so much... the list was great too..hey jacksdad glad to see you again....


Posted By: Albert
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 6:27am
Originally posted by Tadeo Tadeo wrote:

My kid wanted a can of fruit cocktail and so I gave it to him.  It tasted okay but it looked somewhat aged.  It expired in 2005.
 
Albert, what about canned food?  In your readings did you come across any of that info?
 
Add to edit:  Why did cocktail come up like that?  Oh, I got it know, never mind.
 
Hi Tadeo, we fixed the over-aggressive word filter, lol.
 
Also -- From what I understand, you can generally keep canned food for 1 year past the expiration date. 
 
 
 


Posted By: Albert
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 6:28am
Originally posted by starspirit starspirit wrote:

wow Albert thanks so much... the list was great too..hey jacksdad glad to see you again....
 
You're welcome starspirit.


Posted By: coyote
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 9:15am
Topic: Are My Canned Foods Still Safe?
    Posted: 29 November 2007 at 9:39am
    Are My Canned Foods Still Safe?


Listen to the article

Commercially canned foods should be stored in a cool, dry place for best retention of nutrients and quality. Avoid storing next to kitchen ranges, furnaces, radiators, and steam pipes. Also protect against freezing temperatures.

What if they freeze? Is the food safe? Yes, usually. Food expands during freezing. Check the seams of the can after thawing for signs of leakage. Also check the ends to make sure they are flat again. Some breakdown in texture can occur during freezing. The food may be more mushy. If the food is to be mixed with several other foods and cooked, the texture will probably not be an issue.

Recommended storage for canned foods is usually a year. If canned properly, the food is safe indefinitely. However, nutritional value and quality may be reduced. Poor storage conditions can also reduce the quality.

Once a can is opened, the food becomes perishable. Refrigerate or freeze immediately any unused food. It is best to store food in glass or plastic containers. Acid foods especially can pick up the metal taste from a can easily.

Home canned foods should be stored in cool dry places as well. Rules for storage are the same as for commercially canned food. BE SURE the foods were canned under currently approved canning methods. If in doubt, throw it out. Do not taste the food at all. Check with your county extension office for current food preservation guides.

Karen Elliot, ElliottK@missouri.edu
Regional Specialist, Nutrition and Health Education
Jackson County, Missouri
University of Missouri Extension


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long time lurker since day one to Member.


Quote Colonel   Quote Reply Posted: 29 November 2007 at 8:23pm
Take a look at the following article that was published by the FDA:
http://www.confederatecolonel.com/articles/cannedfood/cannedfood.shtml

The basic idea of this article is that properly canned foods last a LOT longer than is generally believed.

Here's a snip from the article:

Among the canned food items retrieved from the Bertrand in 1968 were brandied peaches, oysters, plum tomatoes, honey, and mixed vegetables. In 1974, chemists at the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) analyzed the products for bacterial contamination and nutrient value. Although the food had lost its fresh smell and appearance, the NFPA chemists detected no microbial growth and determined that the foods were as safe to eat as they had been when canned more than 100 years earlier.

Don't trash your older canned foods!

Colonel


-------------
Long time lurker since day one to Member.


Posted By: jacksdad
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 11:34am
   Thank you starspirit - I've been around but lurking for a while until all the pre election fervor dies down. There hasn't been much new BF stuff out there to comment on, and I don't want to get involved in arguments about the relative merits of the Presidential candidates as it's been getting a little contentious of late. I see it as a somewhat pointless exercise in banner waving as it's unlikely that anything we say here will affect the outcome of the election. I do however think that to get involved in heated debates about politics on a site that is an extrememly useful pandemic planning site has the potential to detract from it's usefulness to some degree. While free speech is absolutely a right we should all fight to protect, some of the things that sometimes get posted have the potential to muddy the water somewhat and could conceivably drive a wedge between fellow preppers who may be closer in spirit than their political differences might suggest. Hence, I'm keeping my big mouth shut on this one (for once), although I've never made much of a secret about my political leanings in the past. Let's face it - if you're here you're already looking at a much bigger (and extremely scary) picture than 99% of the population anyway. A high CFR pandemic will make the stock markets recent problems look downright trivial. Prep on regardless of who the new President turns out to be as though your life depended on it, because it just might.
 


-------------
"Buy it cheap. Stack it deep"
"Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong." Michael Leavitt, HHS Secretary.


Posted By: starspirit
Date Posted: November 03 2008 at 8:50pm
jacksdad....I figured it might have something to do with the election...after my little run in I've been low key my self just hit and miss with posting....not much new in BF ..but a real need to keep prepping just the same.....


Posted By: jacksdad
Date Posted: November 05 2008 at 10:00am
  I don't want to gloat about the results of the election, even though I'm very happy about it. A lot of our fellow preppers are probably not feeling so good right now, and I don't think rubbing it in solves any problems. I just hope people give Obama a chance before writing him off. I don't think many people could honestly look at the state of the country and the world and say the last 8 years have given us a direction we really want to continue moving in. Financially, I'm hurting as bad as anyone and I definitely want a new direction. Socialist, muslim - whatever mud you want to try and throw at him, he's still been elected by the people of this country using the same electoral system that got W in the White House, but in a much more impressive way than most had predicted. I left work with him at 206 chasing 270, and by the time I plonked myself down in the chair to watch TV 20 minutes later, it was being called.
  I feel bad for McCain. A long list of things did him in that were for the most part out of his control - the economy and the spectre of Bush principally. I still respect him and hope this doesn't temper his maverick spirit, which I've always liked about him. The man is a true fighter and a patriot.


-------------
"Buy it cheap. Stack it deep"
"Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong." Michael Leavitt, HHS Secretary.


Posted By: starspirit
Date Posted: November 06 2008 at 9:36pm
I truly hope this country gives Obama a chance,too.. the world is watching us to see if we can truly live up to what principals this country was built on.....we talk a big game its now time to put it to test...I had been saying for a couple of days prior to the election its going to be over by 10pm and sure enough it was I too,barely caught it was up get a glass of water....crazy...broke out the champagne right after that....


Posted By: Penham
Date Posted: December 25 2008 at 6:42pm
Good info to know! Especially about the mold, since I am allergic to mold.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: October 19 2014 at 4:46am
Can i use a deodrent after its expiry date?


Posted By: onefluover
Date Posted: October 19 2014 at 5:20am
Depends where you use it.

I would not use it on your feet.

-------------
"And then there were none."


Posted By: wtaumme
Date Posted: September 06 2016 at 5:09am
What is the logic in using a deodorant or perfume after expiry of any coffee creamer powder. Most of the things that has expired can be dangerous, and when it comes to food ingredients and medicines it could be deadly.


Posted By: jacksdad
Date Posted: September 06 2016 at 11:56am
There's nothing I know of in deodorant that should become toxic. And medications don't usually become dangerous after their expiration date, just less effective.




-------------
"Buy it cheap. Stack it deep"
"Any community that fails to prepare, with the expectation that the federal government will come to the rescue, will be tragically wrong." Michael Leavitt, HHS Secretary.



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