Yeah, some people will eat expired stuff and some won’t… I happen to be from the latter group. 
I didn’t check the expiration date from the last ones I ordered, opened one up and bit into it… It was not pleasant. That’s when I checked the date to see that they were expired. This time I checked the dates right away.
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Expiration dates are just a legal thing. The quality of food is primarily dependent on whether or not it’s been sealed properly, and the storage temperature. Something like cookies, for example, will be fresher if they’re 3 months past their expiration date but sat in a temperature-controlled storage area the entire time, than if they were made just 3 months ago and still have close to a year before their date runs out, but spent those 3 months sitting in a Texas warehouse in 45°C heat. This is, for example, why I don’t order dairy products from Amazon during the summer.
You can also get very sick from totally fresh food simply because it wasn’t sealed properly, or was contaminated. You can get botulism from canned goods that are fresh and look perfect. I was one of the unlucky people who got Salmonella from Jif peanut butter in 2022. Never been sicker. Ate it before the recall went out. But I also have things like jerky and chocolate from pre-COVID days that I’m still going through and it’s perfectly fine.
You can of course strictly follow expiration dates if it makes you feel good. But at the very least try to donate the unopened, expired food instead of throwing it away—most places will take it if it’s just a few months past the expiration date.
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At 56 years old, I am well aware. My husband has mansplained it to me many times and I don’t care. I can taste a difference and that’s enough to ruin it for me. I’ve told him if he wants to eat expired stuff, go ahead… But don’t complain to me if you get sick. That’s just me and how I am. Maybe I’m a little bit to cautious because I’m on immunosuppressive medication and I don’t need the added risk of sickness. If I get expired stuff again and post about it… And you want me to ship it to you, make a comment and if the shipping is not too much, I’ll send it your way. In fact, I have one unopened package of the expired fig newtons… The others I have put out with the opossums and squirrels… They seem to like them. Do you want it?
In the middle bowl, I have placed the expired fig newtons.
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Unfortunately, most food banks and such will not take expired food items (or at least that has been my experience), for the same reason you stated initially - legal reasons.
Me… if it ain’t bad, I’ll eat anything. Somethings last forever - honey, hot sauce… - somethings do good to last until the expirey date - chips, crackers… 
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Nah, consumer shipping costs are ridiculous. Just try donating them (if at all possible) before you throw them out. Or feed to animals like you did. Just make sure that the products don’t have sugar substitutes like xylitol, or chocolate, because those can be deadly.
Cute possums by the way. You should make a thread if you have more pics to share.
Yeah but places have relaxed rules and/or make exceptions more often now, especially for non-perishables like canned soup, dry crackers, etc.
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@AMommy2TwoBoys
I’m sure they’d be welcome over on https://forums.woot.com/t/unimpressed-pets-of-woot
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Love the opossums!! 
What a creative way to utilize the unwanted product. They will definitely enjoy them. I know this for sure because everyone knows that possums don’t check expiration dates of anything they eat.
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I, too, received 4 packages of 12 packs. Very thrilled to receive them - a very unexpected value. And none of them have expired dates - all are 2025 expiration dates. 
BUT…
I also remember the taste from my childhood. These fig newtons are not that. Possibly the ingredients have changed. Maybe, as someone else has suggested, they sat in a hot warehouse too long. Maybe my taste buds have changed over the years (I could probably thank Covid for that). They don’t taste “bad” - they are just not the flavor that I was expecting.
I actually do have opossums and squirrels in my back yard, but I think I am going to follow the suggestion of another wooter here. Halloween is here in just a few weeks. 
And for the price of $2.99, I will have 47 trick-or-treaters in my neighborhood trying out fig newtons (probably for the first time!). I’ll throw in some other candy as well (so that I don’t get "trick"ed later!)
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Morbidly curious as to what possum poo looks like
On another note. I would eat the expired ones unless they tasted bad or off. I am an adult & it’s my choice. I wouldn’t give them to anyone else though especially children.
I’m happy the possum is getting fed. Thank you for that. I rarely see the ones I used to feed because we took in the last stray (the tuxedo) that we were feeding for years & don’t leave food out anymore. I posted that on another thread. She is letting us pet her a bit now.
Opossum vs possum = toe may toe… toe mah toe
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I just ate a few Aldi brand newtons tonight. Did I mention I tried to snag these lol. Bring em back Woot!
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Expired or Unexpired possum poo?
“Opossum” when you read about them in a book.
“Possum” when you’re feeding them (or if they are in Beverly Hillbillies’ Granny’s frying pan)
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Either. Fig newtons possum poo. I’m thinking maybe like Bunny pellets. That’s without googling of course.
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I recall that they looked more like cat poo
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You are most likely remembering the taste from before transfats were removed.
I find that to be the case with a lot of baked goods which I used to love, and just do not seem to be the same anymore.
Such a shame something that made stuff so tasty, is so bad for us 
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Try these ones, they’re my favorite. They’re less dry and a thinner shell. Probably more sugar, but not sure.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-Debbie-Fig-Bars-12-11-oz/16777545
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Another Nebraska Wooter, yay. G. I. here
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Ya know ijust saw these at my local grocer today, but i didn’t buy them because we still have the aldi ones left. I will remember this next time i go. Thank you.
I ended up getting the little debbie cosmic brownies to stick in the freezer for a snack fix lol.
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Understood. I just wanted to offer it to you in case you were interested. I donate a lot… Food, clothing, household goods… Would you look at my profile on Nextdoor? The amount of stuff I’ve given away is crazy. So I do think about others and donate what is acceptable. Always for helping others.
Yes, I will be careful about xylitol… I have dogs and I know that it negatively affect wildlife as well.
I only have a few videos and ring doorbell videos. It was a temporary feeding situation because I ran out of birdseed, they were eating under the birdfeeders, so I gave them some leftovers and fig newtons. They loved it.
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I bookmarked it and I will consider posting.
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Bellevue here! Originally from Maine, but I’ve been here since 10/2001. 
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