It’s not uncommon to buy chips that have a long shelf life, but what happens if you eat them after their expiration date? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating food that’s past its expiration date can increase your risk of foodborne illness. The CDC recommends that you throw away food that’s been out of the fridge for more than two days, and expired food should be disposed of in a way that won’t contaminate other foods.
A lot of people do not know what happens if you eat expired chips.
If you want to know what happens if you eat expired chips you have to know what happens when food is not properly stored. When food is not stored properly it loses nutrients, taste, and color. If the food you are eating was stored for a long time in a fridge or freezer it loses its taste. This is because the enzymes responsible for the taste of the food will get damaged. If the food was stored in a freezer it can even cause the food to explode.
In the case of chips, the potatoes used to make the chips will go bad if they are not kept at the correct temperature. The chips will also lose their color if they are kept at the wrong temperature.
The best thing you can do is to always check if the chips you buy are fresh. If they are not fresh, do not consume them.
If you want to know what happens if you eat expired chips you should first read how to store foods properly.
Symptoms of food poisoning from eating expired chips: how will you know if you’re sick?
Symptoms of food poisoning from eating expired chips: How to know if you’re sick
1. Vomiting
If you experience vomiting, it’s important to call a doctor immediately. Vomiting may indicate a number of things, including:
• Food poisoning
• Infectious gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach or intestine)
• Gastrointestinal tract infection, such as bacterial gastroenteritis, viral gastroenteritis, or ulcerative colitis
• Appendicitis
• Pancreatitis
• Intestinal obstruction
• Anemia, hypoglycemia, or dehydration
2. Diarrhea
You should call your doctor immediately if you experience diarrhea. Diarrhea could be due to any number of conditions, including:
• Infection
• Colitis
• Gastrointestinal tract infection
• Pancreatitis
• Enteritis
• Cancer
• Kidney disease
• Severe allergies
3. Abdominal pain or cramps
Any abdominal pain or cramping should be reported to your doctor immediately. You might have appendicitis.
4. Nausea and/or dizziness
A headache is common with the onset of food poisoning. Nausea and/or dizziness is often accompanied by food poisoning. It’s also possible that the symptoms of food poisoning are mistaken for those of a more serious problem, so it’s important to talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
5. Fever
Fever is the body’s way of fighting infection. If you experience a fever, it could mean you have a gastrointestinal tract infection. It could also be a sign of a more severe condition, such as appendicitis or malaria.
6. A general feeling of illness
Feeling ill is common with the onset of food poisoning. You might feel nauseated and/or dizzy.
7. Cough
If you cough while eating, it could be due to food poisoning. This is because of the fluid that builds up in the lungs.
8. Feeling weak
Weakness may be an indicator of food poisoning.
9. Difficulty breathing
Difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath, is also an indicator of food poisoning. It could be due to the fluid buildup in the lungs, heart failure, or pneumonia.
11. Confusion and/or memory problems
If you experience confusion and/or memory problems, it’s important to talk to your doctor. It could be due to dehydration or food poisoning.
12. Mental changes
Mental changes could also be an indicator of food poisoning. You could experience confusion or a change in personality.
13. Stomach pain
Stomach pain, or indigestion, is a common symptom of food poisoning.
14. Changes in appetite
Changes in appetite may be a sign of food poisoning. You could experience nausea, loss of appetite, or diarrhea.
15. Loss of appetite
Loss of appetite may be an indicator of food poisoning.
16. Vomiting
Vomiting is a sign that your stomach is trying to throw up something it doesn’t want. It could also be due to food poisoning.
17. Bloody stool
Bloody stool is another symptom of food poisoning.
18. Chills
Chills are common with the onset of food poisoning.
19. Nausea and/or dizziness
Nausea and/or dizziness are signs that you are experiencing food poisoning.
20. Fatigue
Fatigue is a common symptom of food poisoning.
21. Weakness
Weakness is another sign of food poisoning.
Treatment for food poisoning from eating expired chips: what can you do to feel better?
For the most part, food poisoning is caused by bacteria. The most common food poisoning is caused by Salmonella bacteria, though E. coli and Shigella bacteria may also cause food poisoning.
While many people recover from food poisoning without medical care, others are sick enough to require treatment, including over-the-counter remedies. Symptoms usually begin 12 hours after exposure, peak within 48 hours, and last for four to seven days.
Food poisoning is usually characterized by nausea and vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, and diarrhea. Diarrhea can range from a few bowel movements a day to severe diarrhea, which may even cause blood loss. Severe cases of food poisoning may lead to dehydration, kidney problems, or even death.
Here’s how to treat the symptoms of food poisoning:
Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages, because they can make symptoms worse.
Elevate your feet by propping them on a stool or mattress.
Take an antacid or antihistamine to reduce stomach upset and vomiting.
Call your doctor if you develop signs of dehydration, such as thirst, dry mouth, or weak urine output.
Avoid greasy or spicy foods, and eat smaller portions.
Prevention of food poisoning from eating expired chips: how can you avoid getting sick?
Prevention is better than cure! We all know that. So, if we have to avoid getting sick from the expired foods or expired chips here you can do the following things:
How to store chips:
The best way to keep your chips safe is to store them in their original packaging. They should always be kept in a cool and dry place, either in a pantry or in a cool, dry cupboard.
For the best taste, it’s recommended that you don’t open your chips immediately after buying them. Instead, leave them in their package for up to two weeks, but try to open the package at least every other day, for best taste. If you do open your chips sooner than this, you’ll risk spoiling them.
This is especially true for chips that have been in the refrigerator, which can affect the flavor.
How to choose the best chips for your meal
The most important thing to remember is that the chips that you buy should be the freshest possible. Don’t go for the first batch you find in your supermarket, as these will be the most likely to have gone stale.
If you are not sure whether your chips are safe to eat, then it is always better to err on the side of caution. For example, if you find that a particular chip has an expiry date on it, and you are unsure about its quality, then you should assume that it is not safe to eat, and throw it out.
You can also check the expiry date of the chips in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. The best place to look is in the back of the cupboards. If they are past the expiry date, then they should be thrown out. This will mean that you won’t be tempted to eat the chips out of the cupboard, but you also won’t have to throw them away.
What is the shelf life of chips?
If you have a bag of chips, you can put it in the fridge and it will last about 3-4 weeks. But they should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. This will extend the life of your chips and make them taste better.
How to find out if the chips are safe to eat
It is important to check the expiry date on your chip packaging, which can be found on the bottom left-hand side of the package.
If the chips are sold in a bag, they should have a sticker on them with the expiry date and the manufacturing code. This is the code that identifies the manufacturer, making it easy to find out when the chips were made and how fresh they are.
Some manufacturers also include a “sell by” date on the packaging. If the chips are covered in this, then it means they are sold in their original packaging, and the sell-by date will be accurate. However, the sell-by date is only relevant to the manufacturer of the chips, and the expiry date is the official food safety standard.
Some chips that are in a bag, such as Frito Lay brand Doritos, will have a plastic triangle that will be glued to the package. The triangle is called the “expiry sticker” and is used to tell the consumer when the product was manufactured.
If the chips are sold in a can, they should be unopened, and the expiry date should be printed on the lid of the can.
Eating expired chips can be harmful to your health. The chemicals and preservatives in the chips can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you eat expired chips, you may also experience a headache, dizziness, and a fever. It is best to avoid eating expired chips to stay healthy.
