[The_Blob]

canned tuna in OIL just went on sale here for 3/$1 and nobody is buying it (the water-packed is sold out) I of course went overboard and bought enough to eat a can a day for over a year (I am pretty sure I will NOT be doing that)

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by The_Blob

canned tuna in OIL just went on sale here for 3/$1 and nobody is buying it (the water-packed is sold out) I of course went overboard and bought enough to eat a can a day for over a year (I am pretty sure I will NOT be doing that)

Storage Life of Groceries

shelf life of canned tuna ---5 years...and tuna in oil is better for you and has longer shelf life.

[sailaway]

I always thought tuna in water was better for you, I ate that stuff untill I couldn't stand it any more, kinda like peanut butter in college.

[nj_m715]

Good deal. Last week Pathmark had 3/$1 canned veggies. They had a limit of 12, but let me break up the sales when I got a couple cases.

[Salekdarling]

Originally Posted by The_Blob

canned tuna in OIL just went on sale here for 3/$1 and nobody is buying it (the water-packed is sold out) I of course went overboard and bought enough to eat a can a day for over a year (I am pretty sure I will NOT be doing that)

It's a shame I find Tuna in oil to be disgusting...but apparently the shelf life is much longer when it is in oil so I better suck it up.

[Salekdarling]

Originally Posted by The_Blob

that's a nice looking unit, Expeditioner, but I think I could fabricate one for much less (with the amount of material I have laying around MAYBE for free )

If you can make a unit up, I hope you can take pictures and write down instructions. I'll totally try it out for myself!

[nj_m715]

I forgot to ask. Who has the tuna on sale? A local place or large chain. Thanks

[BadgeBunny]

Originally Posted by Salekdarling

It's a shame I find Tuna in oil to be disgusting...but apparently the shelf life is much longer when it is in oil so I better suck it up.

It's not too bad if you drain off as much oil as you can and then throw in a BUNCH of veggies ... I definitely like water packed better too ... not as heavy tasting ... Actually raw is best but that doesn't store too well ... lol

[HarleyRider]

Go for the tuna in oil. You can drain the oil, eat the tuna, and use the oil in your lantern!!

[Lake Windsong]

Haven't seen this info on the forum, so I thought I'd add it to this thread. Brand names are in alphabetical order, and an explanation of the Decode Pattern is at the bottom of the post. Hope this helps anyone trying to decipher expiration dates.

Canned Good Shelf Life
And Stamped Code Decoder
by Gail Fialkow

The following will help you decipher those confusing codes on the tops and sides of canned, boxed, bottled goods.

Brand/Item
Stamped Code
Decode Pattern
Canned Date
Approx Shelf Life

American Fare Canola Oil
139C8
JJJxY
05/19/98
12 months plus

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda



indefinite

Bluebird OJ canned
ECCHO (see note 1)
MMDDY
01/12/98
24 months

Bush Bro. Beans
61071
MDDYx
06/10/97
36 months

Bush Bro. Chili
61071
MDDYx
06/10/97
24 months max

Campbell Soups
best used by date


18 - 24 months

Campbell V-8 Juice
best used by date


18 months

Capri Sun Juice pouches
8123
YJJJ
05/03/98
18 months

Carnation Breakfast Bars/Drink
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
9 months

Carnation Evaporated Milk
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
9 - 15 months

Carnation Instant Bkfst Powder
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
15 months

Carnation NonFat Dry Milk
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
12 months

Coffee - instant or brick
best used by date


12 months

Comstock Apples
2nd line 31238 time
xJJJY
05/03/98
36 months

Contadina Spaghetti Sauce
7268AC9G16C:52
YJJJxxxxxxx:xx
09/25/97
24 months plus

Contadina Tomato Products
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
24 months

Contandina Pizza Squeeze
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/67
18 months

Crisco
8068A
YJJJx
03/09/98
indefinite unopened

Crisco Butter Flavor
8068A
YJJJx
03/09/98
18 mo. unopened

Del Monte Fruits
6270V
YJJJx
09/26/96
30 months

Del Monte Vegetable
8179L
YJJJx
06/28/98
24 months

Dinty Moore Stew or Chili
108118
xMMDDY
08/11/98
60 - 96 months

Dole Canned Juices
best used by date


36 months

Fleischmans Yeast
best used by date




General Mills Wheat Flour
A715W1
QYDDxx
06/15/97
6 months

General Mills White Flour
B723W1
QYDDxx
07/23/97
15 months

Green Giant Corn or Peas
H7C21
QYxDD
08/21/97
36 months

Green Giant Green Beans
H7C21
QYxDD
08/21/97
24 months

Green Giant Mushrooms
H7C21
LYxDD
08/21/97
48 months

Hanover Canned Vegetables
76294
xYJJJ
10/20/96
24 months plus

Hormel Corned Beef
0802 05U3
XYMM DDxx
02/05/98
indefinite

Hormel Spam
108118
xMMDDY
08/11/98
60 - 96 months

Kellogg Cereals
best used by date


12 mo. past date

Kellogg Pop Tarts
x08117
xMMDDY
08/11/97
6 - 9 months

Libby Pumpkin or Pumpie mix
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
24 months

Libby Sauer Kraut
18M317
xYMxDD
18M317
18 months

Libby Vegetables
18M317
18M317
18M317
24 months

Libby's Canned Salmon
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
24 months

Mariani Prunes (BJ's)
8157
YJJJ
06/06/98
12 months

Motts Apple Juice
WA80725
xxYMMDD
07/25/98
12 months

Motts Apple Sauce jar
WA80725
xxYMMDD
07/25/98
12 months

Nestle Juicy Juice
8214
YJJJ
08/02/98
most 14 months

Nestle Products - Candy
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
8 - 15 months

Ortega Salsas and Sauces
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
36 months

Ortega Taco Seasoning Mix
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
18 months

Progresso Black Beans
L7N26
LYxDD
12/26/97
24 months

Progresso Soups
L7N26
LYxDD
12/26/97
36 months

Quaker Instant Oatmeal
8N08E3
YMDDxx
05/08/98
18 months

Ragu Pasta Sauces - jar
1st line last 4#'s
JJJY
1st line last 4#'s
24 months

Rumford Baking Powder
best used by date


18 months plus

Skippy Peanut Butter
1115M8
MMDDxY
11/15/98
24 months

Snackwell Granola Bars
8213
YJJJ
08/01/98
6 - 8 months

Star Kist Tuna
X177F (bottom line)
xJJJR
06/26/97
60 months

Sweet Success Powder
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
36 months

Sweet Sue ChknDump/Noodles
1st line last #=y
1st line last #=y
1st line last #=y
24 months

Toll House Morsels/bars/coco
7029WW1827
YJJJxxxxxx
01/29/97
24 months

Welches Grape Juice Plastic
8M24A
YxDDL
01/24/98
12 months

Welches Grape Jelly
8N04H21J
YxDDLxxx
08/04/98
12 months










1. Bluebird: c=1,h=2,a=3,I=4,n=5,s=6,t=7,o=8,r=9,e=0

Julian day Month Codes Year Codes
JJJ Month MM L Q Year Y R

001-031 Jan 1 A H 1996 6 E
032-059 Feb 2 B J 1997 7 F
060-090 Mar 3 C K 1998 8 G
091-120 Apr 4 D L 1999 9 H
121-151 May 5 E M
152-181 Jun 6 F A
182-212 Jul 7 G B
213-243 Aug 8 H C
244-273 Sep 9 I,J D
274-304 Oct 10 J,K E
305-334 Nov 11 K,L F
335-365 Dec 12 L,M G

Copyright notice: used with permission of Gail Fialkow.
This document may be printed and distributed freely so long as the author's name remains and no charge is made.