# Canned salmon from with best by date in 2008 - safe? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 31, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335 "2017-10-31T22:13:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/1 "2017-10-31T22:13:50Z")
I have a can of salmon with a “best by” date in 2008. It is now 2017, almost 2018. The can is in good condition, non-bulging, sealed. Is this safe to eat or not? Do not need answer fast, have newer cans to consume tonight for dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/2 "2017-10-31T22:22:42Z")
Let’s say there is no reason to think it’s bad. On the other hand, there’s no absolute guarantee it’s safe. And even if OK to eat, the quality may have suffered. I’ll eat canned food that’s years past its best-by date. But even I would pitch something that old. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/3 "2017-10-31T22:23:16Z")
As long as the can is intact, it should still be good though quality may have suffered. Dress as a witch so it will be salmon enchanted evening. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/4 "2017-10-31T22:26:19Z")
Normally I’d say yes, but nine years? We’re talking what, 2 or 3 bucks worth of salmon? I wouldn’t eat it, and I eat a lot of stuff past the expirey date. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/5 "2017-10-31T22:28:39Z")
For the sake of science, please eat it and report back. If you really want to be thorough, buy a new can and compare the flavor. I look forward to your results. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/6 "2017-10-31T22:29:23Z")
[Here’s some considerations.](http://www.gettystewart.com/safety-of-food-in-cans-cartons-after-the-best-before-date/) Canned food has had all microbes destroying in the canning process. Therefore if the can is intact, there would be nothing inside it to produce toxins that would make you sick. It should be safe to eat for decades. But if the can is damaged at all, all bets are off. But food in cans can break down gradually due to heat or other conditions. While it won’t make you sick, it will taste like crap. Canned salmon should be good to eat in this sense for three to five years. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/7 "2017-10-31T22:47:17Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Normally I’d say yes, but nine years? > > We’re talking what, 2 or 3 bucks worth of salmon? > > I wouldn’t eat it, and I eat a lot of stuff past the expirey date. Agreed. Or, feed some to the cat, and if the cat is OK after a few days, still throw the stuff away since it’s been sitting, opened, in the fridge for a few days! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/8 "2017-10-31T22:51:00Z")
Smell it, the old nose will know! I am kidding, give it to the cat! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/9 "2017-10-31T22:57:37Z")
But I don’t have a cat! Think I’ll toss that one. Thanks for the opinions/info. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/10 "2017-10-31T22:57:44Z")
I feel like there should have been a Monty Python reference by now. You dopers are slacking. _sad_ ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/11 "2017-10-31T23:05:31Z")
Is it salmon mousse? (Happy?) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/12 "2017-10-31T23:10:05Z")
The salmon is not expired. It’s just resting. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/13 "2017-10-31T23:12:13Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > But I don’t have a cat! > > Think I’ll toss that one. Thanks for the opinions/info. Back in college, we gave out old cans of tuna to the idiot fellow college students that came trick or treating in our undergrad apartment complex. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/14 "2017-10-31T23:19:20Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Is it salmon mousse? (Happy?) We both know that I’ll never be happy.😛 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/15 "2017-10-31T23:38:32Z")
Eat it. For science. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/16 "2017-11-01T01:09:26Z")
Salmon is not dead which can eternal lie. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/17 "2017-11-01T01:15:27Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Back in college, we gave out old cans of tuna to the idiot fellow college students that came trick or treating in our undergrad apartment complex. Did you get egged as a result? 😛 I vote for “pitch it”. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/18 "2017-11-01T02:30:53Z")
In Spain especially, but in many places around the world, aged canned goods are a [delicacy](http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2013/03/aging_canned_goods_why_time_and_heat_can_make_your_canned_tuna_and_spam.html), especially seafood. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/19 "2017-11-01T03:34:19Z")
I have learned something new. Thank you for that article. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2017, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335/20 "2017-11-01T04:28:17Z")
You ought to dump it now. The few dollars wasted by tossing the food is well worth it versus the cost of whatever food-spoilage-disease issues could arise by eating the salmon or even opening the can. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canned-salmon-from-with-best-by-date-in-2008-safe/800335.md?page=2)