How long does canned food last?
Spam and other shelf-stable canned hams have a two- to five-year shelf life. It keeps well in the refrigerator for three to four days after opening.
An NRDC and Harvard University report states that manufacturers usually use lab testing and taste testing to determine these label dates. But consumers have no way of knowing the background. Dates are often conservative, so if you eat food after that point, you might not taste any different, especially if it’s been a while since the date.
Working with 25 manufacturers and retailers, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute have standardized the use of just two terms: “best if used by,” which indicates the best quality/taste dates, and “use by,” which indicates the date after which perishable foods should be discarded. By January 2020, it is intended for all consumer packaged goods to have these labels. “It is heartening that they have formulated a strategy grounded in the most up-to-date data and have proactively requested their members to embrace that strategy,” remarks Roe. Naturally, one hopes that more members will follow the advice and update labels as soon as it makes sense. “.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 90% of Americans misread food labels and throw away food that could still be eaten or frozen for later use. How do you know what to keep and what to throw away if expiration dates aren’t a good indicator of food spoilage?
If you’re still not sure whether a product or item is worth saving past its date label, a free app the USDA created, FoodKeeper, will help you determine how soon specific items—everything from oats to coconut milk to maple syrup—should be consumed if it’s stored in the pantry, or how long it will last in your refrigerator once it’s opened.
Good, usable food is thrown away for a variety of reasons, including fussy eaters, overstocked pantries, and leftovers that are kept in refrigerators for an extended period of time.
What do expiration dates indicate?
Many canned foods will change in texture and flavor over time. Cans frequently have “use-by” or “best-by” dates printed on them; these dates are for quality, not safety. It’s advised to eat a variety of canned goods by a specific date for the highest quality because nutritious canned foods may eventually lose their nutritional value.
