It’s no secret that consuming expired foods may be dangerous for your health. You might be wondering if canned tuna is safe to eat past its expiration date, which is the second-most common fish in the United States. EatingWell spoke with a registered dietitian to learn more about the health of eating expired canned fish, the potential risks involved, and how to tell if your canned sardines has gone bad. Secondly, we’ll give tips on effectively storing canned sardines to maintain its beauty and health for as long as possible. Does Bottled Tuna Expire? In contrast to raw foods, canned sardines has no known validity day. Rather, it comes with a “best by” or “use by” date, which indicates the time during which the item is expected to maintain its best quality. According to the green seafood firm Alaska Gold, canned tuna can be safely stored in a cool, dark place for up to five years. You canned tuna be safe to eat well past its “best by” time, but the taste, consistency, and health quality can change over time. According to the USDA, packaged foods may have a longer shelf life depending on factors like temperature, moisture, and is integrity. Before eating, it’s generally a good idea to check the can for any signs of damage or spoilage. You You Eat Expired Tuna? Yes. ( Whew, if you’re already midway through your tuna sandwich. ) If canned food are stored in a cool, dark environment and the can is still sealed, they usually have a long shelf life, generally some years past the published date. The it n’s expiration date typically indicates the point at which the company can guarantee the highest standard of quality, not automatically when the food becomes dangerous. In contrast, canned is one of the best ways to eat fish in the first place, says Angel Luk, RD, a registered dietician and co-founder of Food Mysteries. Because the majority of bottled tuna is made from younger, less mercury-free fish, canned tuna is safe to eat. She explains that fresh and frozen fish frequently have higher amounts of mercury because they are larger, more sophisticated, and spend more time in the ocean to build up the substance. Possible Dangers While canned tuna can be safe to eat past its best-by time, here are some potential hazards to keep in mind: Bacterial Growth: After you open it, canned tuna can be exposed to germs, especially if not consumed immediately, and bacteria can lead to related illnesses. Soon after opening canned tuna, either store it in the refrigerator or store it in the freezer. Once opened, you can safely refrigerate a canned food for three to four days, per the USDA. Chemical Changes: Foods that are past their best-by date may have altered texture, flavor and nutritional quality. If the tuna you’ve opened does n’t appeal to you, you should throw it away. Mercury Content: Although canned tuna contains comparatively little mercury in comparison to larger fish, this neurotoxin can build up in body tissues over time, which could cause health issues like cognitive decline, kidney damage, and developmental delays in children. If you think this is a problem for you, buy light meat canned tuna instead of white meat. How to Tell If Your Canned Tuna Has Gone Bad First, inspect the can for dents, rust or bulges. If the can appears compromised, do n’t eat the tuna. After opening, give the tuna a good sniff. If you notice any off or sour odors, it’s a sign that the tuna has spoiled. Also, if the tuna is slimy, has an unusual consistency or has any discoloration or mold, do n’t consume it. And just because a can of tuna is on a store shelf, do n’t assume that it’s OK to eat. ” The advice for buying canned tuna is the same for purchasing all canned products: Do not buy cans that are dented, leaking, cracked or have bulging lids”, Luk advises. These are all indications that a product may contain harmful bacteria, making it unsafe to consume because it is extremely susceptible to illness. How to Store Unopened Tuna Cans Unopened Tuna Cans Should be Stored in a Cool, Dry Place Away from Sunlight and Extreme Temperatures. These storage methods can increase the shelf life of the can. Can of tuna should be moved to an airtight container, kept in the refrigerator, and consumed within a few days after opening. If the can is intact and properly stored, the Bottom Line Canned tuna is generally safe to eat past its expiration ( or “best by” ) date. However, before consuming tuna, you should always check for spoilage by smelling it, checking the can for damage, and checking its texture and consistency. When in doubt, discard any dubious tuna cans to give it more weight in terms of your health and safety.

Source link