A good friend of mine wants to use some formula cases she has had since her first one was born. The cans have been expired now for a couple of months and her and her husband want to still use 'em for their newborn that should be here in a week. I personally could never do something like that but then again she has a point. "Are we poisoning all the children in Mexico and Africa when we give them our expired cans?" Good Question, I told her.
2006-10-01 12:07:49 · 19 answers · asked by mommie2katie 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I used to work for a pediatric office and yes they do give expired cans of formula to our own nation (WIC program) and other countries in need.
2006-10-01 12:14:53 · update #1
I wouldn't use it, I wouldn't take the chance of the child getting sick.
2006-10-01 12:09:27 · answer #1 · answered by Backwoods Barbie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I first read this, I thought, "What a dumb question! Would YOU drink expired milk or take expired medicine?" Then I started thinking about it. The formula is vacuum sealed (whether it's powder or liquid) and as long as it hasn't been opened... Canned goods (vegetables, for example) have an expiration date, and I'm sure we've all eaten them without realizing they were expired by a few months, and lived to tell about it. My opinion is that it's *probably* OK, but why chance it? This is this man's child, for goodness sake. If I were in that situation, I wouldn't think twice about throwing the formula away. Even if it's not actually spoiled/bad, at the very least it probably doesn't have all the nutrition it did when it was still in date. Maybe some of the vitamins break down after expiration? I'm not sure. This is a good question for the pediatrician. Didn't you say you work for one?
2006-10-01 13:44:46 · answer #2 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you question it, then why do it. Things expire for a reason.
Formula probably expires because the nutrients in it beome less over time, and ready made formula may just down right go bad. Why risk the childs health. Don't cut corners when it comes to the kids.
And the WIC program, gives vouchers for people to go to the store and get formula, every month. They do not give expired cans of milk.
I would like to know more about were you got your info that we give " bad" food to other countries. Im not saying you are wrong, but you were misinformed about WIC.
2006-10-01 12:23:47 · answer #3 · answered by RAW29 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I work in an Intensive Care Nursery and we always throw out our expired formula. I don't know where the person got the info that we give our expired formula to other countries! Some isolated groups might do this, but as a whole I don't think that is the case.
Bottom line: not a good idea to use expired formula.
2006-10-01 12:16:13 · answer #4 · answered by milldan65 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would not take any chances, especially with a new born. I would not eat expired food myself so I would never give any to my baby either. I also would never donate expired food to poor people either. Maybe you can buy the baby an early gift of a few cans of formula and take the old cans and throw them away yourself and tell this crazy man he does not have to spend that few extra $$ for new food for his baby.
2006-10-01 12:15:24 · answer #5 · answered by sooz 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ask your friend this question, "Would you drink expired milk or eat anything past it expiration date?" If her answer if no then ask her why would she risk giving her newborn something that she wouldn't put inside her body. The government might gives the milk to the people in need overseas, but I wouldn't take any chances in my own child.
2006-10-01 13:38:53 · answer #6 · answered by Kim 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no she should not use expired formula if she goes on wic she can get like 8-10 cans a month!
2006-10-01 12:11:17 · answer #7 · answered by lita 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
when expired formula is given to other countries it usually has not been expired for very long and is actually tested to be sure it isn't harmful to the babies we are sending it to. Ask your friend if she would feed her children rotten meat to save money.
2006-10-01 14:01:28 · answer #8 · answered by Jennifer F 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Foods, and medications, have expiration dates because chemicals will start to break down. It probably wouldn't hurt the baby, but probably wouldn't have the 100% stregnth of the nutrients in it.
2006-10-01 12:40:09 · answer #9 · answered by Michelle *The Truth Hurts 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would never use expired formula. Incidentally, why isn't your friend considering breastfeeding? It's free, is always at the right temperature, always available, it never expires and comes in lovely packages. :-)
2006-10-01 13:19:12 · answer #10 · answered by Petitemom 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who says we give children in Mexico and Africa our expired cans? Do you have proof of this?
2006-10-01 12:12:00 · answer #11 · answered by Taffi 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋