Are my 3 year old fish fingers OK to eat?

Lot's of highbrow, technical discussion takes place on the the forums, but I'd like to bring it down to my level for a minute.

Last night whilst cleaning out my freezer chest I found an unopened packet of fish fingers buried beneath the ice and snow; they'd been there for quite some time and had a 'use by' date of 21st September 2003. They were within the 'use by' date when I purchased them [frozen] and they were stored in the freezer straight away, where they have remained at about -20C.

When I look at the date on the label eating three year old fish fingers makes me nervous, but when I look at the picture below...

Is it safe?

Last night whilst cleaning out my freezer chest I found an unopened packet of fish fingers buried beneath the ice and snow; they'd been there for quite some time and had a 'use by' date of 21st September 2003. They were within the 'use by' date when I purchased them [frozen] and they were stored in the freezer straight away, where they have remained at about -20C.

When I look at the date on the label eating three year old fish fingers makes me nervous, but when I look at the picture below...

Is it safe?

Leaving aside your freezer management I think the recomended maximum time for frozen fish is 6 months, whether they are microbiologically safe to eat after this time I have no idea but I imagine the texture would be pretty mushy once defrosted, those pesky ice crystals are awfully sharp you know. If you were to follow the serving suggestion of a nice dollop of ketchup then so long as you dip each bit in there you will be fine, there isn't a micro-organism alive that can withstand the low Ph of such high sugar levels

Bon Apetit

Dear Simon,
Yes, the picture is safe.
As to the product, depends on your liking for rancidity.
Prepare for French-football disease (Z. pibitis).
Rgds / Charles.C

Dear Simon,
Prepare for French-football disease (Z. pibitis).

Simon

deep fry said fish fingers in a good quality oil (will kill off any bacteria, hopefully)

serving in cheap, plastic white bread with a liberal dollop of marg, salt and oodles of pepper

lovely jubbly!!

deep fry said fish fingers in a good quality oil (will kill off any bacteria, hopefully)
serving in cheap, plastic white bread with a liberal dollop of marg, salt and oodles of pepper

lovely jubbly!!

Indeed. Is it too hot for the Chippy; (rhetorical question) is it ever too hot for the chippy? We've got a really good one near us, golden brown chips and batter to die for. It will get me in the end, but at least I'll die happy.

Dear Simon,
The original fish fingers actually contained quite large amounts of fish. This has progressively declined so the modern product is perhaps safer in this respect. Good luck.
Rgds / Charles.C
(in case of over-subtlety, Z = Zidane, pib = pain in belly)
PS - don't forget the vinegar.

Dear Simon,
The original fish fingers actually contained quite large amounts of fish. This has progressively declined so the modern product is perhaps safer in this respect. Good luck.

I don't know if Captain Birdseye casts his net as far as you Charles, but their packets of fishy digits now contain 100% cod. An about turn in quality I think. Granted they don't go as far as to say which parts of the fish are in there.

(in case of over-subtlety, Z = Zidane, pib = pain in belly)

I think it was mate.

Dear Simon,
Does this mean there is no breading ? I'm guessing but breading started at maybe 20- 25% then started to go up. If it's only cod, the Captain must have a special quota. Nonetheless, you are cetainly correct in that all sorts of fishy species have been tested. I had some on a BA flight a few years ago (kid's meal, I thought it would be safer) and it was unexpectedly tasty. In my area it varies but can be described as 'white fish".
Rgds / Charles.C

Hi, we think that the frozen fish is safe mostly from the microbiological point of view. But I have something to share.

I had this client who does frozen partially cooked meat. We did the shelf life test to validate the shelf life of the product. The thing was that although the mirobe count was stable throughout the months of storage in the freezer, the product shelf life did not pass 3 months because of the increasingly higher peroxide value.

Just food for thought.

Cheers,

Dear Simon,
I extracted this from one of the Saferpak dwlable items -

A ‘‘Use by'' date appears on perishable foods that are prone to microbiological deterioration, e.g. yogurts, cheese, meat and fish. Consumption after the ‘‘Use by'' date presents a food poisoning risk. Some products may also be labelled with advice to ‘‘eat within x days of purchase''.

A ‘‘Best before'' date is used on most foods that are not prone to microbiological decay. It consists of a day, month and year, although for longer-life foods such as canned and some frozen foods, it may just be a month and year, or even just a year, in which case it will be preceded by the word ‘‘end''. ‘‘Best before'' dates refer to the time period in which the product remains in peak eating condition rather than representing a food safety risk.

If true would appear you are liable to micro. reactions at least (does frying eliminate toxins?). I predict the modern fish fingers use "Best Before" but with understood exclusions like 3yrs.
You could always test share it out first (the nearest and dearest?).
My guess is that you've eaten it already.

Rgds / Charles.C

Dear Simon,
I extracted this from one of the Saferpak dwlable items -

A ''Use by'' date appears on perishable foods that are prone to microbiological deterioration, e.g. yogurts, cheese, meat and fish. Consumption after the ''Use by'' date presents a food poisoning risk. Some products may also be labelled with advice to ''eat within x days of purchase''.

A ''Best before'' date is used on most foods that are not prone to microbiological decay. It consists of a day, month and year, although for longer-life foods such as canned and some frozen foods, it may just be a month and year, or even just a year, in which case it will be preceded by the word ''end''. ''Best before'' dates refer to the time period in which the product remains in peak eating condition rather than representing a food safety risk.

If true would appear you are liable to micro. reactions at least (does frying eliminate toxins?). I predict the modern fish fingers use "Best Before" but with understood exclusions like 3yrs.
You could always test share it out first (the nearest and dearest?).
My guess is that you've eaten it already.

Rgds / Charles.C

Thanks for clarifying the difference between 'Use by' and 'Best before'. We will have to remeber when someone asks as I'm sure they will. The fish fingers are long gone I tested them on the kids and they're still here.

Regards,
Simon

The fish fingers are long gone I tested them on the kids and they're still here.

Ha, typical dad.

Cheers,

The fish fingers are long gone I tested them on the kids and they're still here.

Regards,
Simon

So didn't you try them Simon???????????
Or did you think that they may not have been safe to eat ?????

So didn't you try them Simon???????????
Or did you think that they may not have been safe to eat ?????

I like to follow in the traditions of our Heraldic past. And you know in those days the King would never be the first to taste his food.

Simon, I have to ask the question, have you actually purchased any foodstuffs recently or are you existing solely on the remains of a big shop from sometime pre 2000?

Simon, I have to ask the question, have you actually purchased any foodstuffs recently or are you existing solely on the remains of a big shop from sometime pre 2000?

Are you teling me everything in your freezer is in date?

There may be some remnants from the last ice age lurking at the back ........

There may be some remnants from the last ice age lurking at the back ........

One thing I must get rid of is an old trout caught by my neighbour. I topped and tailed it and removed the guts and put it in the freezer about 3 years ago. I haven't had the heart to throw it away, but have no intention of eating it.

Regards,
Simon

Why did you not eat the trout? Blimey it wouldn't last in my freezer for 3 years. It wouldn't have made it to the freezer, just straight to the barbeque!

I suggest getting a smaller freezer. It forces ruthlessness and good rotation!

My neighbour is an old trout .... wish someone would eat her!

Dear All,

We seem to be gettting some overlapping with the "wildest dreams" thread

It must be approaching the centennial aniversary of fish fingers, Sir Birdseye I believe.

Rgds / Charles.C

How does anyone keep food in their freezer for that long? I stock up my freezer every month, taking everything out and putting new products at the back and moving existing stock to the front so it is used first.

Mind you, I'm a bit of sad bloke like that - I do the same in the cupboards, fridge etc. Even worse, I have all of the labels forward facing. Her indoors thinks I am a complete lunatic when it comes to food!!

How does anyone keep food in their freezer for that long? I stock up my freezer every month, taking everything out and putting new products at the back and moving existing stock to the front so it is used first.

Mind you, I'm a bit of sad bloke like that - I do the same in the cupboards, fridge etc. Even worse, I have all of the labels forward facing. Her indoors thinks I am a complete lunatic when it comes to food!!

Have you ever worked in a mini-mart?

How does anyone keep food in their freezer for that long? I stock up my freezer every month, taking everything out and putting new products at the back and moving existing stock to the front so it is used first.

Mind you, I'm a bit of sad bloke like that - I do the same in the cupboards, fridge etc. Even worse, I have all of the labels forward facing. Her indoors thinks I am a complete lunatic when it comes to food!!

Sounds like you should be training retailers!

Regards,

Tony