Man using a packet of gravy that expired 5 years ago sparks fierce debate about shelf life

It's human nature to sometimes take risks without considering the consequences. Some people push the boundaries of common sense, especially when it comes to consuming expired food. The "best before" or "use by" dates are there for a reason, but some still test their luck despite knowing the risks. A man who goes by u/BigBlueMountainStar on Reddit was one such risk-taker who decided to use a 5-year-old gravy powder, bringing about mixed opinions. 

In a post from this September, the user shared a picture of the outdated gravy packet. The "Best Before" date recommended by the manufacturer was July 2019 but for the user, it still seemed consumable. "Just made the gravy for the roast. Wish us luck," he titled the post. In one of the comments, he pointed out that he had indeed used the organic chicken gravy powder and prepared the gravy to be served with the roast for dinner. He added that the gravy had been resting in his cupboard and so after 5 years past its expiry date, he decided to go for it. When u/unsquashable74 asked how the gravy tasted, the man quipped, "Like chicken gravy. There’s still time for botulism to kick in mind." 

Naturally, there were some concerned people commenting on how problematic this outdated gravy might turn into. "Hope this doesn't end up in the canon of last-ever Reddit posts by muppets. 'Hey guys, I found this cool-looking thing. No idea what it is (it's a landmine), but I'm gonna try to open it up,'" said u/unsquashable74. "I honestly don't know which is later - the fact you're making gravy that's five years out of date, or at nine o'clock in the evening," chimed in u/bumwings. "What is it, and what's in it? Because that's the difference between 'Meh, fine,' or botulism death in intensive care," gagged u/KeyLog256.

Surprisingly, the post garnered more supportive comments than warnings. People pointed out that since it was the "best before" date and not the "use by" date on the packet, it could be safe to consume. "If it's powder and not moldy, you're good," said u/Rulke44. "Best before is a quality thing, use by is the one to watch out for," pointed out u/jstyles7. "It’s best before. As long as it looks and smells okay, you’ll be fine," added u/Indigo-Waterfall. 

Speaking of expired food products, an expert's opinion on the 'expiry' date causing America's food wastage problem needs to be mentioned. Turns out, people have been misinformed about the meaning of expiry dates on food packages which causes more food to end up in landfills while many destitute families go hungry. As per a 2013 study by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and the Natural Resources Defense Council, the "expiration dates"  are based on subjective standards of "freshness" determined by manufacturers. Tamar Adler, a chef, journalist, and cookbook writer, told Vox, "In the absence of culinary information, people assume that any information they’ve been given must be the most important information."