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Australia’s Very Own Camp Oven & Outdoor Cooking And Camping Forum › General Chat Area › Let's Chew The Fat › Does Tinned Fish Go Off

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Does Tinned Fish Go Off (Read 293 times)

Jan 11^th, 2023 at 1:32pm

Derek Offline
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Does tinned fish go off???

I had a tin of Riga Sprats (little fish like sardines) for lunch on toast and when I went to throw the tin and box away noticed the best by date was April last year. Shocked

They looked good and tasted good.

Oh well, ambulance is just down the road. Grin

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Reply #1 - Jan 11^th, 2023 at 7:28pm

Rabbitz Offline
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Hi Derek,

Typically tinned goods are pretty much bulletproof regarding longevity. Assuming the can is not compromised or is not swollen then the contents are normally safe.

Then we come to the issue of dates.

Best before and best by dates are completely separate to use by dates.

Best before refers to food quality and taste. After the nominated date the company suggests the quality may have reduced. It has nothing to do (at all) with food safety. If the truth be told for most things with a best before the date is simply built in obsolescence - i.e. they want you to throw it away and buy a "fresh" one.

Use by is assigned as a food safety measure. The manufacturer will not attest to the safety of the goods after that date. In truth, these dates do have some leeway and it won't automatically be poison that day so it's up to the consumer to decide if they want to take the risk.

As for the sprats I wouldn't have hesitated even if I saw the date.

Colin

I admit I am an agent of Satan, however, my duties are largely ceremonial.

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Reply #2 - Jan 12^th, 2023 at 7:30am

TBF Offline
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Riga Sprats on toast.
Yummy.

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Reply #3 - Jan 12^th, 2023 at 8:14am

Cactus Offline
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Tinned fish or sardines was a staple diet for foot slogging
swages in the old days long before use by dates came in and kicked around many tucker boxes a standby.
Muzz

Have Camp Oven will travel

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Reply #4 - Jan 12^th, 2023 at 8:32am

Derek Offline
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Well, the next morning and I am all good. Roll Eyes

Did some reading on it yesterday and found that a lot of use by and best buy dates is more to do with the container breaking down than the food itself.

Most tins have a coating that can eventually break down. Plastic will eventually leak chemicals into food and drink.

Things from Aldi like these and the kippered herrings only are available occasionally and I usually stock up. I reckon this one that I found in the back of the pantry I must have had a few years. Grin

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Reply #5 - Jan 12^th, 2023 at 9:19am