Question about baby food????

Question

I have so much baby food that I had purchased for my son, while going through it all because I was going to give some to a friend of mine who has a child who is now starting on baby food I noticed some of them had expired expiration dates. I have heard mixed things about this but wanted to get more opinions I have heard from some people that the baby food is still good because it is preserved very well inside the jar so the expiration date doesn't mean anything. I still don't feel too comfortable with giving someone else expired baby food. I want to throw it away. Has anyone else heard of this before?? What are the recommendations with expired baby food?

Let me clarify that I am VOTING for throwing it away, I don't want to take the risk of getting my child or my friends child sick, it isn't worth the 45 cents it costs to buy the baby food. I was just wondering because some people have told me that baby food is non perishable and I wasn't sure if this was true or not.

Answer 1

Baby food is perishable - but not necessarily by the date on the jar. To get the most vitamins and minerals, use the items by the dates on cans and jars. Otherwise both are considered 'canned' and would be good until the tops have 'popped'. When I canned veggies with my mom it was actually in vacuum top jars, like baby food. The veggies were safe to eat as long as the top was not popped up, but if they got over 2 years old they did not taste as good, but they were not harmful.

Technically it's still OK, so if was for me, I'd eat it, but with babies I go for better safe than sorry (toss it).

Take care.

Answer 2

According to the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service website:

Dating Formula & Baby Food

Federal regulations require a "use-by" date on the product label of infant formula and the varieties of baby food under FDA inspection. If consumed by that date, the formula or food must contain not less than the quantity of each nutrient as described on the label. Formula must maintain an acceptable quality to pass through an ordinary bottle nipple. If stored too long, formula can separate and clog the nipple.

Dating of baby food is for quality as well as for nutrient retention. Just as you might not want to eat stale potato chips, you wouldn't want to feed your baby meat or other foods that have an off flavor or texture.

The "use-by" date is selected by the manufacturer, packer or distributor of the product on the basis of product analysis throughout its shelf life; tests; or other information. It is also based on the conditions of handling, storage, preparation and use printed on the label. Do not buy or use baby formula or baby food after its "use-by" date.

Answer 3

I give my daughter baby food and i always make sure it is not expired don't take a chance through it away i could make her baby really sick go with your mother instinct

Answer 4

Its better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to the safety and health of a child. How sad it would be if a baby got food poisoning! That could kill a child!

Answer 5

i have never heard of it being of any harm, i thought that it was always concidered a non parishable food, becides it sit in store for a long time, but if you dont want to risk it, just donate it to a shelter or somewhere, also people like to use the jars.

Answer 6

There is a reason there is an expiration date.

Answer 7

Baby food is pershiable, if it wasn't it wouldn't have a use-by or sell-by date. Go ahead and throw it away.

Answer 8

if there expired through them away. do you eat expired food no so why should your baby or your friends baby

Answer 9

Don't take that chance of getting your baby sick.. it's not worth it.

Answer 10

I would just go ahead and throw it away.