I got a good deal on a 3.5 pound bag of Swedish Fish, but they’re “best by” Nov 14.

So which will make me sicker? Eating them all within a week, or eating them after they go bad.

  • ryan@the.coolest.zone
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    32
    ·
    8 months ago

    It probably won’t make you ill immediately, more likely the texture or flavor would begin to suffer first (hence “best by” rather than “expiration” date). Keeping it stored properly (i.e. not an open bag but something sealed) would likely allow it to last longer.

    You should probably not eat 3.5lb of candy within 10 days unless you are trying to make your intestines suffer, but if you choose to binge please update us as to the state of your health so that you may be used as a cautionary tale.

  • Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    28
    ·
    8 months ago

    “Best Before” is not an expiration date, it’s just so that if you aren’t satisfied with the quality after that date the company can say, hey we warned you, we can’t guarantee they’ll be up to our standards that long.

    They aren’t going to suddenly go rancid on November 14

  • SHITPOSTING_ACCOUNT@feddit.de
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    20
    ·
    8 months ago

    Since you already received the genuine answers:

    You need to be really careful. The expiration date isn’t exact, but after that, they’ll quickly ferment and turn into Surströmming on the inside.

  • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    18
    ·
    8 months ago

    “best by” isn’t an expiration date, it’s just a product suggestion.
    Only a very few things, like baby food, have an actual expiration date that’s meaningful.

    Treat them like any other food. If it looks fine, smells fine, feels fine and tastes fine, it’s probably fine.
    They’re basically entirely sugar, so the biggest worry is going to be drying out, not spoiling.

  • Dandroid@dandroid.app
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    18
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    8 months ago

    In the US, the “best by” date means nothing. They just want you to throw it away so you buy more. If it looks fine, smells fine, and tastes fine, it’s fine.

    • freeindv@monyet.cc
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      8 months ago

      Well, in this case, if it looks like fish and smells like fish… Throw it the fuck out

  • R0cket_M00se@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    ·
    8 months ago

    Probably for awhile, it’s a hard gummy candy. They’ll harden but I’m not even sure they can go bad.

  • mindlight@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    12
    ·
    8 months ago

    Swede here. As a certified specialist in Swedish fish storage I recommend the following:

    Divide the 3.5 pounds into smaller portions and store in separate containers (fx Ziploc bags).

    That way they won’t go stale as fast since the unopened bags will retain the moisture.

  • Zellith@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    edit-2
    8 months ago

    Best before dates codes are more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules. Yar

  • parpol@programming.dev
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    8 months ago

    Swedish fish as in the licorice? They last years beyond their due dates. They’ll get a bit harder, maybe become bleaker, but will still be edible.

    • Wahots@pawb.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      8 months ago

      I dunno man, I feel like 3.5lbs of candy at once is gonna cause some problems next time they use the restroom, lol. 3.5lbs of anything, really.

  • It would take an awful lot of time or other circumstances for swedish fish to become inedible. They’ll just get “stale” (with gummy candy, this is usually just getting a bit harder/chewier) and, in my experience with gummy Lifesavers, the flavor becomes more concentrated. I actually like that stuff just a little stale.