We’ve all done it—drank from a questionable carton of milk, mowed down on the remains of old yogurt, and even dared cook meat that had been in the freezer for a few months (well six to be exact).
While we tend to exercise the phrase “better safe than sorry” when it comes to food spoilage, there are some foods that can be eaten past their expiry date. These dates are just given to let consumers know when they are at their peak quality and freshness, and sometimes there is a little bit of leeway between that date and their real expiration.
Here’s a list of foods that even food experts admit we can consume safely past the expiry date on their packaging…
Soda
With the amount of chemicals and beverage additives in carbonated drinks, it shouldn’t surprise you that they are formulated to last a really, really long time. Just to give you a perspective of the shelf life, food scientists estimate that diet soda is good for up to 4-months past its shelf life expiry date, while soda with regular sugar content can safely be consumed up to 9-months after its listed expiration date.
If you pop open a can of soda that’s been sitting around for a while, your own senses and good judgment will serve you well in determining whether or not it is still good. You should pour old pop into a glass and observe its character and consistency before drinking it; if it no longer fizzes up, or if it appears watery and there aren’t any bubbles, don’t consume it. There are some health risks associated with drinking expired soft drinks.