Throw away urgently: 8 foods that should never be eaten expired

Chocolate is a product that usually does not stay in the house for a long time. Both adults and children love him. It has many beneficial properties, as well as an exquisite taste. But sometimes it can still remain on the shelf for an extended period of time. And when the owners discover a chocolate product, they have a question: throw it away or eat it anyway: maybe nothing bad will happen?

The health benefits and harms of chocolate

Dark chocolate is much healthier than milk chocolate, this is explained by the large amount of cocoa beans and theobromine.

The main beneficial qualities of the dessert are as follows:

• Presence of theobromine. This is a substance found in cocoa beans, its concentration is much higher in dark varieties. Theobromine has the ability to dilate the lumen of blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure and helping to accelerate diuresis.
• Universal antidepressant. Sugar is a source of energy, which makes a person active and improves his mood.
• Antisclerotic effect. A high concentration of flavonoids cleanses the bloodstream of atherosclerotic plaques, thereby helping to prevent atherosclerosis, heart attacks and stroke.
• A large number of microelements. The presence of potassium, magnesium and caffeine stabilizes the functioning of the brain and peripheral nervous system. At the same time, such a positive quality as improved memory is noted, so any chocolate product is recommended for the elderly.
• Improves digestion processes. If treats are used sparingly, motility increases, and therefore the stomach and intestines process food faster.
• Prevention of neoplasms. Small pieces of dessert do not allow structural changes in cells.
• Prevention of colds. Based on recent clinical trials, it was found that a small piece of sweetness relieves the symptoms of acute cough.

The negative properties of the product are considered to be:

• high concentration of sugar,
• provoking allergic reactions,
• negative impact on liver cells.

Shelf life

It depends on the ingredients used or the method of preparation:

1. factory (production of large batches);
2. homemade (such sweets are preferred by people who adhere to proper nutrition);
3. exclusive baked goods (usually ordered for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries. Here the client’s imagination can come up with unimaginable combinations)

Without refrigerator

Without a refrigerator, i.e. Only dry waffle cakes can be stored at room temperature for 30 days.

This is also typical for some types of chocolate cakes, but their fat content must be taken into account: the higher, the shorter the period.

In a refrigerator

When purchasing a treat, you should follow the storage recommendations indicated on the box. For example, cakes containing fruit or decorated with cream must be kept at temperatures up to + 6 degrees. The refrigerator is the optimal place for this. Don't forget that confectionery products absorb surrounding odors very strongly, so aromatic knuckle or liver pate are not the best neighbors for them. When placing the cake in the refrigerator, cover it with a tight lid to prevent odors.

Storage standards for such products are determined not by GOST, but by technical conditions.

• The shortest shelf life is for cakes filled with sour cream and whipped cream: no more than half a day (6 hours).
• If the product is decorated with custard or curd mousse, it can be consumed for about 18 hours.
• Cakes filled with yogurt/yogurt mousse and cream cheese, such as Mascarpone, remain fresh for one day.
• Bird's milk, fruit and berry - 7 hours.
• Products with protein filler - 72 hours.
• Waffle ones can last up to 3-4 weeks.

In the freezer

Quite a good option!

There was a holiday coming up in our family: my grandmother’s anniversary, and she really loves baked goods with prunes “from Palych,” but you won’t find them in our local store during the day. There are 3 days until the celebration, and suddenly I see our favorite in the window, naturally, I buy it, put it in the freezer at home, hoping that it won’t spoil. What do we observe after defrosting? Yes, the same thing!

Store-bought or homemade products can feel great in the freezer for several days.

The deep-freezing method is often used in cafes and restaurants: frozen dessert remains edible for a reasonable period of time (within a week).

Causes of poisoning from expired chocolate

Can chocolate go bad, and is it allowed to eat expired candy? – these are the questions asked by those with a sweet tooth, for whom this sweetness is part of the daily menu. Expired dark chocolate can be eaten if it is less than 6 months past its expiration date. But in order not to be poisoned by expired chocolate, it is best to melt it in a water bath. Heat treatment does not change the taste of the product, but at the same time destroys pathogenic microflora.

Reasons when symptoms of chocolate poisoning occur:

• Poor quality raw materials. Unscrupulous manufacturers, in pursuit of profit, replace cocoa butter with trans fats, which are based on the use of palm oil. This leads to the product being oversaturated with chemical components.
• Long-term storage. After the expiration date (more than 6 months), a favorable environment for the development of pathogens is created in the dessert. Therefore, if chocolate has spoiled precisely because of this reason, you should stop using it.
• Consumption in large quantities. If you overeat this product, its beneficial qualities are lost, and food intoxication will not take long to occur.

It should be noted that it is easier to be poisoned by expired candies than by expired chocolate. This is due to the fact that the candies use a filling that spoils faster. Therefore, candy poisoning occurs much more often. This “delicacy” poses a particular danger to children and the elderly.

Black caviar - pike?

I notice that in addition to desserts, for some reason the same store sells seafood: red fish and caviar - red and black.

“Where does the fish come from?” - asks the customer. “Sakhalinskaya,” Olga explains to her. "I do not believe!" — the customer grunts displeasedly and leaves.

“Are they really bringing her from Sakhalin?” — I ask Olga. “No, of course not. They told us to say this, so we say it. Why bother yourself? In general, it is written on the boxes that the fish is brought to us from Kostroma. But where do salmon or salmon come from? It’s clear that the fish is artificially grown,” Olga says this very quietly. — Yes, and black caviar is not always real. Some of it is colored pike caviar. But, of course, it sells at exorbitant prices. But we get a percentage of sales. You have to live somehow!”

I notice that in addition to desserts, for some reason the same store sells seafood: red fish and caviar - red and black.

What happens if you eat expired chocolate?

Diarrhea, vomiting and poor health that occur after eating chocolate raise the pertinent question of how dangerous expired chocolate is and why. First of all, this is dangerous because the body begins to experience symptoms of food intoxication, which include:

• discomfort along the digestive tract - stomach pain after chocolate,
• feeling of a lump in the throat,
• vomit,
• increase in body temperature to subfebrile levels (37.1-37.4),
• loss of strength, lethargy and lethargy,
• diarrhea,
• tachycardia.

You need to know that food intoxication from expired chocolate occurs when the cake is poisoned if it was used to prepare the filling or cream. In the vast majority of cases, this is facilitated by pathogenic microflora.

Particularly dangerous is the tandem when an overdose of tea occurs with the consumption of expired chocolate. In this case, the clinical picture is supplemented by the following signs:

• the patient develops increased nervousness and irritability,
• sweat production increases,
• the skin of the face turns red,
• the process of falling asleep is disrupted,
• convulsive syndrome may occur,
• in severe cases, it is difficult for the patient to navigate in space due to hallucinations.

Attention. Death from chocolate can theoretically occur if 15 kg of this product is consumed at one time. But given that the dessert contains theobromine, the lethal dose for humans is 10 kg. Moreover, for a child this dose does not exceed 7 kilograms.

How confectionery shops are cunning with the sale of cakes and pastries. AiF investigation

Cakes and pastries are perishable products; they can last no more than 5 days in the refrigerator. However, even expensive confectionery shops are cunning with the real production date. How is this done and why do sellers need it?

Center of Moscow. A new chain store of a famous confectionery plant opened a couple of weeks ago. It would seem that in the city center you can get fresh sweets directly from the manufacturer. But, unfortunately, this is not the case.

I managed to get a job as a salesperson almost immediately. Although manager Alena K. , who conducted the interview for the vacant position, emphasized the need for work experience. In the end, as it turned out, neither he nor the medical book were needed. I was sent to Arbat for an internship the very next day.

First aid for chocolate poisoning

The likelihood of death from consuming this delicacy is minimal, but in order to reduce the risk of developing negative consequences, you need to correctly carry out pre-medical measures:

1. Stomach cleansing. To remove toxins from the body, it is necessary to induce a gag reflex by irritating the root of the tongue. This procedure begins by preparing a solution that must be drunk at one time. To do this, add a small amount of table salt or a few manganese crystals to the water. This manipulation should be carried out until the rinsing waters become clear.
2. Enema cleansing. This procedure is performed in all cases where it is impossible to induce artificial vomiting (children under 5 years of age) or more than 4 hours have passed after consuming the product. The manipulation should be repeated at intervals of 3 hours.
3. Sorbents for oral use. A group of enterosorbents will help relieve signs of intoxication. Polysorb, sorbex, enterosgel, and atoxil are quickly effective.
4. Replenishing fluid levels. Increased drinking regime makes it possible to prevent dehydration of the body. Decoctions of chamomile inflorescences and rose hips, weak tea and still mineral water are the drinks that are recommended for the victim to drink.

Treatment of poisoning from expired chocolate

The treatment process for poisoning is carried out comprehensively. In severe cases, the patient is hospitalized in the toxicology department.

The following drugs are used in therapy:

1. Saline solutions. This category of drugs allows you to replenish fluid loss. In this case, the appointment will be justified:

• ringer-locke solution,
• isotonic sodium chloride solution,
• drugs acesol or disol.

Additionally, rehydron solution is diluted, which is consumed orally in small portions so as not to provoke vomiting.

1. Absorbent therapy. The further use of drugs from the group of enterosorbents is carried out, for which the following are optionally prescribed:

• Atoxyl,
• Polysorb,
• Enterosgel,
• Sorbex.

1. Antipyretic. If the temperature reaches high numbers, it is possible to prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:

• Paracetamol,
• Ibuprofen,
• Nurofena.

1. Medications that eliminate the gag reflex. If vomiting is indomitable, the following is prescribed:

• Cerucal,
• Raglan,
• Tseruglan.

1. Enzyme preparations. To restore the digestive activity of the stomach and intestines, the following drugs are prescribed:

• Pancreatin,
• Panzinorm,
• Creon,
• Pangrol.

1. Pain relief. For severe pain in the stomach or intestinal tract, antispasmodic medications are prescribed:

• No-shpa,
• Spazgan,
• Spasmalgon.

During the treatment process and after it, it is recommended to follow a diet in which complete taboos apply to fatty foods, smoked foods and any types of sausages.

Imaginary “Best Sellers”

“Walk around the store and see exactly what we sell. Particular attention to “best sellers”. This is important,” the saleswoman Olga M. . Later she told me that “hits” need to be sold first: “For everything that sells worse, we put a “best seller” sign. They can’t lie here forever!” Olga praised these “hits” to each buyer, and three of them “fell in” and bought them, although they originally came for someone else. “Try to offer cheesecakes in the same way: this is a profitable sale - the date is not written on each of them, the buyer will not understand at all whether they are fresh or not. Therefore, first sell the old one, and then take on the new one,” Olga continued.

All pastries and cakes sold in “our” store must be made in our own factory. At least that’s what they explained to me during the interview (and they even showed me the holy of holies - the plant building). Sellers convince buyers of this. Not really. “Almost all individual sweets are brought to us frozen from Belgium and France. Some are made for the plant by third-party factories. But we must always answer that the cakes are our own,” Olga continued to be frank with me. “This way people feel calmer, and they buy more.” Checked!”