How much attention do you pay to the expiration date on dry foods?

[Daniel@R2R]

Would you use dry coral or fish food that has expired? How far past the date would you use it? What is the danger of using old food? #askingforafriend

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

Nope, I check dates and I never use anything past it's expiration date. With dry foods sometimes it goes stale before it expires and we buy new anyway. We don't eat expired products why should our pets.

 

[Sabellafella]

Would you use dry coral or fish food that has expired? How far past the date would you use it? What is the danger of using old food? #askingforafriend

My sustainably aquatic pellets are almost a year over expiration, and I still use them. But now that I think about it, i don't pay much attention to the expiration date on dry foods. Good topic, would like to know if they actually do go bad, or if its possible they could cause some harm.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

My sustainably aquatic pellets are almost a year over expiration, and I still use them. But now that I think about it, i don't pay much attention to the expiration date on dry foods. Good topic, would like to know if they actually do go bad, or if its possible they could cause some harm.

That's basically my question. I'm wondering if there's anything to it, or is that just basically a "sell by" date. I know that with at least on some dry goods, the expiration date really isn't a "danger" issue.

 

[Dsnakes]

I’m EXTREMELY anti expired products... I had a bad experience with old milk and expired yogurt once ;Vomit Never again! My wife laughs at me when we go to a friends house for dinner and I’m checking dates. I’m also sort of picky about condiments left out on restaurant tables.

Yet when needed, I can survive on old MREs in the field ;Yuck

Not sure where I was going with all of that, but I probably wouldn’t feed them expired food

 

[Gareth elliott]

With dry food i only get worried if moisture enters the container. I try to keep them sealed in an area they wont get wet. I try to keep most foods in a fridge inside a ziplock bag if its a large amount to extend the moisture lock out. I use an older fridge which has almost no humidity when maintained. Food for my fish and geckos is kept in here.

 

[Fudsey]

My wife is a date freak... anything, and I mean ANYTHING over the date goes in the trash. For me, it depends on the contents of the food. I have eaten year old miracle whip and had no repercussions from it.

Dry foods for human consumption would be ingredients and if it was allowed any moisture.

Fish food I guess would be same deal but I bet if it was not good, they wouldn't eat it.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

With dry foods sometimes it goes stale before it expires and we buy new anyway. We don't eat expired products why should our pets.

How do you know when dry fish food has gone stale? I can understand your logic on not feeding what you wouldn't eat, but 1) I'm personally ok with consuming dry goods if they're past expiration date and I can tell they've not gone bad and 2) if it's just a taste/QC issue, I doubt my corals would care much.

 

[K. Steven]

I have NLS pellets that are three or four years old and I still use them. I think as long as they remain dry and don't get exposed to prolonged humidity, they shouldn't spoil. Expiration dates on frozen food are a different story.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I have NLS pellets that are three or four years old and I still use them. I think as long as they remain dry and don't get exposed to prolonged humidity, they shouldn't spoil. Expiration dates on frozen food are a different story.

Most def on the frozen food. I don't use it past the expiration (ok... maybe I'd use it for another couple of days if needed), but I've honestly never had frozen that outlasted the expiration. Dry foods just tend to last me a lot longer.

 

[NinnJinn]

When I got my used tank and items I found Nori and flake food that was four years past expired (2014) To say the least I threw it away.

For human consumption, items that have juice or liquid in them and dairy items get throwed out on the expiration date.

 

[Lovemyreef2015]

How do you know when dry fish food has gone stale? I can understand your logic on not feeding what you wouldn't eat, but 1) I'm personally ok with consuming dry goods if they're past expiration date and I can tell they've not gone bad and 2) if it's just a taste/QC issue, I doubt my corals would care much.

We can tell when they go stale when the smell isn't as strong and we also judge on how long we've had it. I read somewhere too that after 6 months dry fish foods can start losing their nutritional value. I am very picky when it comes to outdated products. I check everything.

 

[Dawgvet]

Expiration dates don’t mean the food has gone bad. That is just the date that, up to that time, the manufacturer guarantees the highest quality of their product. I don’t think the issue is that it’s going to harm the fish as much as what you are feeding is not at the peak of quality.

 

[SashimiTurtle]

As long as it doesn't wink ay me when I open the container or knock me flat on my rear end when I do the sniff test, my gut can handle it. I'm so not a date freak.

Frozen I would toss out of date or freezer burnt real bad, dry is good until it's gone or gets wet. At which point I'd I'd toss it then and there. I use dry foods that have resealable containers, so it keeps them fresh.

 

[Capitol Reef Corals]

None

 

[JoshH]

My clowns are pigs, my dry food never makes it close enough to the expiry date to worry about it I'd probably still use it for a few weeks after expiring though if it ever did.

 

[Alfrareef]

If you have time, take a look at this podcast from 99% invisible about expiration dates: https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/best-enjoyed-by/

 

[vetteguy53081]

I don't. I freeze unopened bottle of dry food and refrigerate open ones for freshness

 

[Crabs McJones]

I've never fed dried food always frozen. But if its past the expiration date I toss it. Why risk it right

 

[karo25]

I check dates when buying food products for my fish but don't check the dates once using them so I'd probably never notice once the expiration date had past. However, if I did notice it was expired it would worry me until I had replaced it. ;Cyclops