Five Pantry Staples Dangerous After Expiration Date
Although most foods remain safe past their labeled date, flour, rice, infant formula, potatoes, and damaged cans pose serious poisoning risks.
Although most foods remain safe past their labeled date, flour, rice, infant formula, potatoes, and damaged cans pose serious poisoning risks.
Pantry stockpiles are often a lifesaver for quick meal prep, but not all staples last forever. While most products can still be consumed past their "best before" date, there are exceptions that can become a source of dangerous bacteria and toxins, warns Večernji list in an analysis published on August 1, 2026. Special attention should be paid to five categories of products whose consumption after the expiration date can cause serious health issues such as cramps, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
Flour is considered a raw food even within its shelf life because milling processes do not destroy potentially present bacteria like E. coli and salmonella. Only high temperatures during baking or cooking make it safe to eat. According to Večernji list, whole wheat flour in the pantry should be used within three to six months, while white flour can last from six months to a year. Always check the appearance and smell before use, fresh white flour has a creamy color and neutral odor, and any color change, clumping, or sour smell is a sign to toss it.
Similar rules apply to rice. Raw white rice can be stored for up to two years, while brown rice, due to the oils in the bran, lasts significantly shorter, about a year. Danger also lurks from spores of the bacterium Bacillus cereus, often found in raw rice, which can survive cooking and multiply if cooked rice sits at room temperature for too long.
When it comes to infant formula, there is no tolerance for expired products. The "use by" label here is strict and absolute because manufacturers guarantee nutritional value and safety only up to the stated date. After expiration, not only does the amount of key nutrients decline, but the risk of bacterial contamination also rises, which can be extremely dangerous for babies' sensitive immune systems. Once opened, a package of powder should be used within one month and stored tightly sealed in a dry place, but never in the refrigerator.
Potatoes, under ideal conditions in a cool, dark place, can last one to two months. Once they expire, they become soft, moldy, and develop sprouts containing the toxin solanine. In larger amounts, this compound can cause diarrhea, headaches, and vomiting, and in extreme cases, even coma, paralysis, or death. Although canned food can last for years, dents, rust, or exposure to high temperatures drastically shorten its shelf life. Especially dangerous are bulging cans due to the risk of Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which causes botulism, a rare but deadly illness.
In addition to pantry staples, Kurir.rs on the same day offers tips on recognizing a spoiled watermelon, a summer fruit that can also spoil unexpectedly quickly. The appearance of foam on the rind or inside the fruit after cutting is a clear sign that fermentation has begun and the watermelon is no longer edible. A soft rind with cracks, dents, or dark spots, as well as a sour or unpleasant smell, are additional signals that the fruit is overripe or its interior has started to decay. A change in texture to mushy, rubbery, or mealy, along with dark or brown spots, especially with an off-putting odor or mold, is reason to discard the watermelon to avoid health issues.
Experts emphasize that it is crucial to understand the difference between labels on packaging, "best before" refers to quality, while "use by" indicates a safety deadline for microbiologically perishable foods. Proper storage and regular checks of appearance, smell, and texture are the best protection against food poisoning.
