It will be fine. It is a best buy/use by date, not an expiration date.

Thanks, pkramer60. I felt fairly confident in using it because it wasn't the expiration date, but it doesn't hurt to get some input. I know some things deteriorate in flavor a certain length of time after the best/by date, but didn't feel this was this far after.

Madonna

Okay, I've got an add on question to this one, probably a very silly question, but I've wondered. Some items, for instance, a vacuum sealed package of country ham says use by March 2017. If I opened it today, will it still be good by March? I know country ham isn't the stuff of my childhood, I'm sure it is loaded with preservatives, but would it really be safe for that long? Or do they just mean it is good til then sealed?

The unopened pkg is good until March 2017.

Thanks, that's what I have assumed, but that little question has always lurked in the back of my mind.

Am always a bit amused by those who who seriously observe the "rot date". Like something that was fine yesterday suddenly becomes poison tomorrow!
I know someone who believes that....I have actually heard her say..."Drink this milk n ow....because tomorrow it will be bad! and I will have to throw it out.
Food doesn't suddenly go bad....well sometimes it seems like that....but not canned and preserved stuff.
I have a carton of half and half in my refrig that is 30 days past "good by" date....and it still smells fine. I bought new today...well just because, but if it still smells OK my the next time I mix up some bread....I'll dump it in.

Probably a little extreme, but a couple of years ago, I finally got around to using some Jello gelatin that had a 1987 'use by' date. The reason I remember is because DSI was born in 1987. (The Jello jelled and tasted just like Jello purchased two weeks ago.)

I agree, Madonna, I wouldn't hesitate to use that mincemeat. I'll also add that those "best by" dates don't only identify food safety, but also address quality, so that date is often the time when quality may begin to degrade, albeit slowly. That doesn't make it unsafe and it's probably not even quality issue at this point. Those dates are guidelines, not rules, and so good sense should prevail.

That does mean unopened packages, however. I know my stepmother was amazed that a box of chicken broth left on the shelf open was spoiled when the "use by" date hadn't yet been reached. I tried to explain that it meant sealed packages, just like sealed jars of home canned stuff kept safely until opened. I also explained that there was a lot of difference between a jar of apple jelly, with all that sugar and acidity, and a meat product like chicken broth.

Powdered jello, though? I can't imagine why that would ever spoil!

Annie

When I thought about this topic, realized I couldn't think of a single food item that actually had an "expiration" date on it? Some things have "sell by" dates... like meat & milk. I think most people look for the date that's furthest out... like on milk. If I bought milk with TODAY'S date on it, would expect it to still be fine to use in 5+ days, as long as properly stored. If it went sour within that short time, I would take it BACK!

I think the whole "best buy" thing is a ploy to get people to toss perfectly FINE food items and go buy more!

All of our products are stamped with a Best Before date. None have a "sell by" date, like yours. The date is honoured as long as the package is unsealed. Once it's open, the date isn't guaranteed at all.

People are absolutely paranoid with not using something a few days past the date, a lot of waste is created.

Yogurt, sour cream etc can be used long after their Best before date. I have packages of pasta in the pantry that have expired, but they're dry pasta and I'm using them up first, with no qualms about using it at all.

But Food Banks won't take any expired foodstuffs at all.