Is it safe to buy food from Amazon?

Question by Blah.: Is it safe to buy food from Amazon?

I want to buy some pumpikin puree. They only sell it during the Halloween-Christmas time and I really want to make some food that involves pumpkin. Would it be safe to buy Holiday type food from Amazon? How do they get a hold of it? Could it be expired stuff?

Best answer:

Answer by cactusgene
Yes it is safe to buy food from Amazon. Since your pumpkin puree is in a can, it generally has an expiration date about 2 years out. But even if the expiration date has passed the food is still good if it was stored properly (in a cold dry place.) I keep mine in a cabinet in the garage as I have no basement. And no, Amazon will not sell you stuff that has already expired. But here is what the USDA has to say on this subject.:

What do can codes mean?
Cans must exhibit a packing code to enable tracking of the product in interstate commerce. This enables manufacturers to rotate their stock as well as to locate their products in the event of a recall.

These codes, which appear as a series of letters and/or numbers, might refer to the date or time of manufacture. They aren’t meant for the consumer to interpret as “use-by” dates. There is no book or Web site that tells how to translate the codes into dates.

Cans may also display “open” or calendar dates. Usually these are “best if used by” dates for peak quality.

In general, high-acid canned foods such as tomatoes, grapefruit and pineapple will retain best quality on the shelf for 12 to 18 months; low-acid canned foods such as meat, poultry, fish and most vegetables will retain best quality on the shelf for 2 to 5 years — if the can remains in good condition and has been stored in a cool, clean, dry place.

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