Training & Nutrition - Gel expiration

I bought some PowerBar gels a couple weeks ago at a grocery store about 100 miles from home which were marked .89 EA.

They had 2 kinds in stock (strawberry/banana and chocolate) so I bought them all. Yesterday I went to throw a couple in my jersey and I saw that the chocolate ones expired on Jan 12, 2012. Right away I thought, that's why they were marked at $.89, but then I looked at the strawberry/banana and they were current date. I'm wondering if it's still ok to use the chocolate ones or if the expiration date is hard and fast for some reason I don't know about. I called the store to let them know but I'm not going to drive 200 miles to bring back 15 gels.

When it comes to food packets, the only thing to check is to make sure that they're not puffy (generating gas: bad...) or leaking. Considering that it's basically sugar, they're probably good even several years after the expire date.

No need to take 'em back, you got a bargin :thumb:

I have some left expired 4 years ago, am finishing them up and I'm still alive and well. FWIW.

Every so often I find a gel in the back corner of a drawer and see it expired a few years ago. They always taste and work the same as ever.

Agree with the others. I've consumed GUs that were anywhere from 6 months to a year and half past. Most food expirations can be ignored (for a few months at least). I heard that meds are good for a year after exp dates.