>I do feel that expiration dates are placed on things for a reason, and am
>not sure that I would want to use expired medications or foods for the
>fuzzies in my charge.
 
Yes, this is true, but if you are familiar with a product, the expiration
date is just a "warning" of "the time is almost up" more than it really has
gone bad.
 
Take Sustical, Jevity, Ensure, Deliver etc.  - these products are used for
making Duck Soup or other gruels for recovering ferrets.  When they are bad,
you can tell from the smell.  But nursing homes will toss expired cans long
before they are really spoiled.  I suggest contacting a hospital, nursing
home, etc., to see if you can pick up the cases of expired products for free
or at a discount (especially if they have a lot and it has not expired just
yet) for keeping on hand at the shelter.  I've used the stuff for as long as
a year after expiration, and as I said before, you can tell when it has gone
bad.  If you don't know what I'm talking about, just take a can, open it up
and leave it on your kitchen counter for 48 hours then take a sniff.  THAT'S
BAD!
 
Pam
[Posted in FML issue 2168]