Best Before Date Expired On Holistic Select. Is It Safe To Feed?

[soothie]

Hi

I've just opened a 13.6kg Holistic Select (duck) for my 3.5 years old Jack Russell/Staffi X who has a history of allergies. Problem is, the Best before date is Oct 2011. I've had the bag sitting in a container in the shed for the past few months as I had been able to source a bag of the Salmon/Anchovy back in July which I finished today.

I hate to throw away $130 worth of dry food but I don't want to hurt my boy so I'm looking for any expert opinions on whether it would be safe to feed the expired dog food for atleast a couple of months, say into Jan 2012 before I switch to a fresh pack?

I have 3 loving dogs and they all have a different diet so I'm reluctant to throw out a good and expensive product. The big boy is on a diet so I can't feed him the duck.

Safe or not safe? Please let me know what you think

Cheers

S.

Edited November 13, 2011 by soothie

[jacqui835]

If it smells fine I would feed it to mine - but I eat food past it's best before date if it looks and smells fine and well touch wood I never seem to get sick... Goes both ways though. I have had food that was supposedly fine but smelt off so I didn't eat it.

[Guest Ams]

I feed out of date dog food here all the time as it is much cheaper for me to buy. No problems for them at all.

[soothie]

I didn't think dry food could smell I can't sense any funny smells but I'm not familiar with the duck. I noticed it looked every so slightly shiny when I opened the pack but I couldn't sense any dampness.

I'll give it a go for a few weeks but I won't stetch it out for too long as I've heard its not good to store food in the shed/garage where the heat can get to it. The pack was in a container (unopened) in the shed since March.

Thanks for your help

[Teebs]

I would use it. I actually talked to the rep for this at a conference and they said it is fine to use after the useby date. I always get my food short dated, cheaper for me and the pets dont care

Edited November 13, 2011 by Teebs

[Guest lavendergirl]

I have been told by staff at the supply stores that dry food is OK for up to a year after the "best by" date. While I would not keep it that long a few months should be OK. I am feeding Holistic Select - the seafood one - at the moment and it smells quite strong to me. And it is still within its 'best by' date.

[minimiss]

I'd say as long as it was sealed, and no moisture got to it, it should be fine.

Just keep watching for furry bits or any out of character smells.

[Maddy]

I would use it. I actually talked to the rep for this at a conference and they said it is fine to use after the useby date. I always get my food short dated, cheaper for me and the pets dont care

I've spoken to a rep too (and only a week or so ago) and he also said it was fine. He did mention that the probiotics in it might be gone but..

As long as the bag is unopened and not considerably past date (I'd draw the line at three months for dry food).

[Teebs]

Atlas eats his own dog poo. dont think he would worry about Out of date dry food

[PuddleDuck]

Yep up to 3 months is generally fine

The main thing is that the manufacturer has only tested the product meets the guaranteed analysis up to the use by date. After that provided food is stored as per manufacturers instruction (cool dry place out of direct sunlight) its still good for a few months but may not have the same composition as the guaranteed analysis

[sandgrubber]

Experts in packaging and food safety are quick to recognize that 'use by' dates are not at all accurate. If the stuff gets warm and stays warm for a long time, eg, it's left in summer heat in Australia, deterioration may set in well before the use-by. The label probably says . . . somewhere . . . store below 30 C. If you store above 30 C it will go off much more rapidly. On the other hand, if you're able to keep stuff somewhat cool, it will probably outlast the use-by date by several months.

The other, and much more complicated question, is how bad is it to use food that has gone off by a little. My biochemistry and vet science isn't up to tackling that question. My dogs, however, don't seem to mind if their kibble is a bit over-the-hill.

[luvsdogs]

Use by & best before are 2 different things. For us anyway. I have eaten both past the date, a few days for used by & a week or so past best before.

I would feed it as long as the kibble doesn't smell off or have a fine dusting of mould on it. It has been stored mostly through the winter, have you had many hot days while it was in the shed? It's only a month past the best before date, so should be fine.

[sandgrubber]

Use by & best before are 2 different things. For us anyway. I have eaten both past the date, a few days for used by & a week or so past best before.

I would feed it as long as the kibble doesn't smell off or have a fine dusting of mould on it. It has been stored mostly through the winter, have you had many hot days while it was in the shed? It's only a month past the best before date, so should be fine.

The can of worms I'm not competent to open relates to deterioration of fats, and possible formation of carcinogens. This will not show up as mold etc., but may show up as the stale/rancid smell of vegetable or other oil that has been left to sit in the back of your cupboard too long. Dogs digestion is very different from human digestion, and most dogs don't live long enough to be vulnerable to some human cancers. Personally, if it smells at all rancid/stale, especially if it's been stored in a warm place, I wouldn't use it. I'm not that bothered by parlour moths and creepy crawlies that occasionally show up in a bag . . . unless they're in there from the first day I open it and the bag looks like a worm farm.

[persephone]

BEST before .. I would be happy using it however ,store it in a cool dark spot , preferably in a sealed container.

USE BY .. I wouldn't feed it out.

[Guest english.ivy]

If it was store bought, wouldn't they exchange it for a fresh bag? If you had a receipt.

When I buy food from Pet Stock, I grab the bags behind as they are the freshest, the oldest stuff it sitting at the front so it sells first. Even the same at the supermarket.

[Crisovar]

If it was store bought, wouldn't they exchange it for a fresh bag? If you had a receipt.

Why would they if the bag was still in date at time of purchase??

Do you take your food back to the supermarket if you don't eat it before it expires??

[Teebs]

If it was store bought, wouldn't they exchange it for a fresh bag? If you had a receipt.

When I buy food from Pet Stock, I grab the bags behind as they are the freshest, the oldest stuff it sitting at the front so it sells first. Even the same at the supermarket.

and its people like you who make me chuck out a heap of food each month because it is out of date. We rotate all our stock each time it arrives yet we still have out of dates because people take the stuff behind.

Why would the store exchange it when it has been sitting in her shed for a few months? it is not their problem that it was not used right away?

[Guest lavendergirl]

I guess people would say that their main concern was buying the freshest produce possible for their animals

[Crisovar]

I guess people would say that their main concern was buying the freshest produce possible for their animals

Well buy smaller bags and use it straight away ;)

[minyvlz]

I think people have the right to choose whichever bag to buy, especially if the expiry date is different. I do it all the time with supermarket groceries. If you don't want people to buy the newer stuff, maybe don't order so much or store it out back.