What happens if you eat out of date vegetarian food?

Question

(Susages) when its about under 2 weeks...

Answer 1

You mean veggie sausages? Most veggie sausages contain egg and/or milk derivatives so I don't think an average out of date veggie sausage would be ok. It might make you sick.

Just throw them out and buy new ones. When it comes to your health, it's better to be safe than sorry. :-)

Answer 2

That depends on what it's made from and how well you've been storing it. Some vegetarian ingredients have a very long shelf life, while others can indeed go rancid, even if they're plant-based. Since sausages are spiced, it would be very difficult to figure this out by smell unless it's really bad, but then it would be rather obvious.

If the date you're looking at is the sell-by date, then it may still be good. If the date you're looking at is the use-by date, then you may wish to play it safe and get rid of it.

Answer 3

Oh geez. I've wondered this myself - I'm in denial about veg*n food spoilage. (lol)

For some reason, I think almost all of these foods can be eaten past the sell-by date.

I was once told by a food industry "insider" that the sell-by date is not always the date when the food goes bad; rather, it is the date that the stores must pull them off the shelves and stop selling it. Like LoT said, the food doesn't magically turn to dust on that date.

I've eaten veg foods (a few days) past their date and I'm still alive.

A smell, feel and taste of the product should indicate if it's safe to eat.

Good luck!

Answer 4

It depends. Usually nothing. If you read most labels say "best by" such and such date. It is not like after the date it goes poof into a pile of dust. Sometimes you can tell just by looking at the food. If it seems to have a slim on it, mold, extra watery etc, then you might not want to eat it. Unless it looks funky (which often a light rinse can cure) simply cooking it will kill anything potentially harmful. Take a small bite and if it takes normal it probably is just fine.

A good rule of thumb is vacuum packed stuff can last anywhere from 6 months to a year past its date. Non vacum packed items like refrigerated soy milks and yogurts can last sometimes up to several months past its date if unopened and sometimes several weeks if opened. a look and smell test should give you an good indication if its safe to consume.

P.S. I store many of my foods in the freezer which extends its shelf life considerably. If the veggies sausages are unopened I would not think twice about the best by date if its only been two weeks. Then again I am really against wasting on an ethical level. I know people who will throw out restaurant leftovers if they do not get them into their fridge in a half and hour. I have never gotten sick by eating old food but once and a while I can tell its past due after eating a few bites and then pitch it out.