can protein expire.

[rizza]

well, i have protein bars that expire i january...

wondering if they expire, would it be useless to eat.
i dont think so.

[coontang]

Hey that's a good question. I got some protein powder that I bought a long time ago that I still haven't used (it was on sale so I bought a bunch.) I'm thinking that it probably doesn't go bad as long as it's kept in the container or wrapper.

[muirsy88]

Protein powder does NOT go bad. I've done extensive research into this because I always ask the store for their expired or near expired protein. It's always at least half price so it's a good way to buy it. The only reason the have expiration dates is because the FDA and other regulatory bodies require a date to be put on (shelf life).

As for the bars, I'm not sure. Bars aren't completely dehydrated like the powder is so you'd have to ask around.

[Athasling]

Thanks for that info. I have expired protein powder which I took today and was wondering the same thing. But what about creatine? Mine is expired about a year or so. Is it still worth taking?

[RU4A69]

Whey AND creatine expire. Hence the expiration dates.

[musclemass22]

not sure on the creatine, but whey does not lose its effectiveness after the date posted. FDA requires the manufacturers to put a date on there.

[AnaerobicAndrew]

well, i have protein bars that expire i january...

wondering if they expire, would it be useless to eat.
i dont think so.

It can expire. I just bought some protein bars/powder and I asked the guy at the store if these experation dates mattered (a BBing.com store...they werent stupid GNC type clerks, and he knows whats up...) and apparently it does. (But, well then again... it is in their best interest to say it does, because then we end up buying more when its past its due date, so who knows.)

[muirsy88]

It can expire

Maybe bars do but powder certainly does not. As I posted earlier, the date on the tub is simply its shelf life. This is required of all food products by the FDA. Because whey is dehydrated, the date the slap on is very exaggerated. Now if your whey is a couple years old....probably time to buy some new stuff. But several months 'expired' is exactly the same aside from the fact that it's 1/2 price

[Dolfan_714]

Protein powder does NOT go bad.

See I've heard contradicting opnions.

reps for a link that supports your statment.

[muirsy88]

See I've heard contradicting opnions.

reps for a link that supports your statment.

If I could link the conversations I've had with several health food store clerks I would. All 3 of them told me the same...FDA requires a date, the date is exaggerated by a long shot, it's dehyrated....etc..

The other thing that sticks out at me is why would they keep 'expired' protein powder in the back? Why not throw it out if it's not useable? They still make profits off of it, that's why.

[TanTheMan]

im going to have to agree with muirsy here. and im going to use dry powdered egg whites as my backup example. dry egg whites have an indefinite shelf life. they are poor place for bacteria to grow (especially when dehydrated, and as raw, you have less of a chance of S than you do from the yolk). protein is keen to grabbing moisture, and moisture can lead to mold. so keep that in mind. store in a cool, dry, area in a moisture tight container.

sorry kinda got off track here. basically, because its dehydrated its a bad place for mold or something else to grow and ruin it. now, there is one thing you should note:

FAT goes rancid. its that simple. white flour can store indefinately. whole wheat has a 1 year shelf life. this means, that yes, whey protein powder will go bad. storing in a refrigerator will vastly extend the shelf life of the product, as it does with wheat flour.

so heres the skinny: the whey doesnt go bad. (per say) but the fat will cause the batch to go bad.

so yes, there is a reason it has an expiration date. if you can purchase it cheaper than usual when its expired, and doesnt smell like somethin funky, go ahead, its still good protein and will still do its job. age wont modify the protein structure. itll take about a year or so for it to go rancid, if not longer. so should be okay.

or you could just buy tubs of dehydrated egg whites and store them indefinately!

PS: looking into the egg whites thing, it seems to be more cost effective to get a can of powdered egg whites than whey protein. for the same price i paid for my 2lb tub of whey, you can get 45 servings of 24 grams, thats 2 tubs of whey :-D just a thought

[MeowChow]

For what it's worth, I had a 4-year old tub of whey that I was taking for a few weeks, and I simultaneously developed a skin rash. I bought a new one and the rash went away. Could have been a coincidence, but I rarely (if ever) get skin rashes.

[1veedo]

Protein powder does NOT go bad. I've done extensive research into this because I always ask the store for their expired or near expired protein. It's always at least half price so it's a good way to buy it. The only reason the have expiration dates is because the FDA and other regulatory bodies require a date to be put on (shelf life).

As for the bars, I'm not sure. Bars aren't completely dehydrated like the powder is so you'd have to ask around.

im going to have to agree with muirsy here. and im going to use dry powdered egg whites as my backup example. dry egg whites have an indefinite shelf life. they are poor place for bacteria to grow (especially when dehydrated, and as raw, you have less of a chance of S than you do from the yolk). protein is keen to grabbing moisture, and moisture can lead to mold. so keep that in mind. store in a cool, dry, area in a moisture tight container.

sorry kinda got off track here. basically, because its dehydrated its a bad place for mold or something else to grow and ruin it. now, there is one thing you should note:

FAT goes rancid. its that simple. white flour can store indefinately. whole wheat has a 1 year shelf life. this means, that yes, whey protein powder will go bad. storing in a refrigerator will vastly extend the shelf life of the product, as it does with wheat flour.

so heres the skinny: the whey doesnt go bad. (per say) but the fat will cause the batch to go bad.

so yes, there is a reason it has an expiration date. if you can purchase it cheaper than usual when its expired, and doesnt smell like somethin funky, go ahead, its still good protein and will still do its job. age wont modify the protein structure. itll take about a year or so for it to go rancid, if not longer. so should be okay.

or you could just buy tubs of dehydrated egg whites and store them indefinately!

PS: looking into the egg whites thing, it seems to be more cost effective to get a can of powdered egg whites than whey protein. for the same price i paid for my 2lb tub of whey, you can get 45 servings of 24 grams, thats 2 tubs of whey :-D just a thought

So if you keep protein powder in 80 to 90 degree heat it will make it go bad? How long would it take?

[Jamier11]

Yeah 80 to 90 degrees will make it spoil easier. Bacteria can thrive if its warm, but if kept cold, like anything else, it will stay good for much longer.

[1veedo]

Can I put it in my refrigerator?

Btw I've had some protein in 80/90 degree temperatures for like 6 hours it should be ok right?

[Hunterchilla]

ive never had protein powder go bad, but i bought 3 boxes of protein bars for 3 dollars, which were all expired. I ate them and they tasted so bad, protein bars definately go bad.

[Dolfan_714]

Can I put it in my refrigerator?

Btw I've had some protein in 80/90 degree temperatures for like 6 hours it should be ok right?

I <3 Noobies.

keep that protien in a cool dry place.

6 hours in 80-90 degree temp for 6 hours is fine. I'm sure it got shipped in a truck with higher temps for more then 6 hours at some point.

use common sense. kthnx!

[stayfit101]

No, I don't think it was a coincidence! 4 years, you pushed the envelope! I would say a couple of months beyond its expiration date, so long it is not caked or smell bad...keep a note in your pocket with the date,time that you gobbled it, just in case- for the paramedics .

For what it's worth, I had a 4-year old tub of whey that I was taking for a few weeks, and I simultaneously developed a skin rash. I bought a new one and the rash went away. Could have been a coincidence, but I rarely (if ever) get skin rashes.

[Lvisaa2]

No, I don't think it was a coincidence! 4 years, you pushed the envelope! I would say a couple of months beyond its expiration date, so long it is not caked or smell bad...keep a note in your pocket with the date,time that you gobbled it, just in case- for the paramedics .

Did you really respond to a post from 2007?

[chickeneater]

Did you really respond to a post from 2007?

he's new, and not only is he reading the stickies, but is combing thru the entire history of the nutrition section. good on him!

[taylor0051]

Hi I got some usn muscle fuel mass ad it went out of date august 2010 will it still be ok to drink it smell fine and looks fine so would it be ok to drink still

[Musclepuppy]

I have some Cytosport Complete Whey Protein, that has "Best buy 4/2011" stamped on the side...I've been using it as a pre workout protein, and plan on using it throughout the day as a kind of meal replacement or addendum...it hasn't made me sick, and it doesn't smell bad when I mix it in liquid...so until i get sick i'll keep using it, i'd just like to know if im just consuming empty calories...i don't wanna waste it, and if i need to consume protein throughout the day, what better way than cheap almost or already expired protein. (it wasn't cheap when i bought it)

lemme know if you think it's a bad idea...

[SheepOnAcid]

It spoils. I recently took the lid off of an old tub and it had the faint smell of rot in it. I threw away the top layer of the protein and what was underneath was fresher.

[pollox]

i currently am eating 1 protein bar per day... expired by a year... been doing it for 3 months now

[brandonwal79]

i currently am eating 1 protein bar per day... expired by a year... been doing it for 3 months now

I opened up a container of pro performance protein and it smells fine, but then i saw it expired in 8/10. I am tempted to just use it, as its powder that was sealed and in cool conditions for the last 2 years. Any suggestions?

[Studmuffin0909]

I have been working in a gym for a few years now. I don't have a whole crap load of money but I do eat alot of protein. I always buy expired protein, the only way I wouldn't eat expired protein is if it's caked together. That means it has moisture in it wich = bacteria. I haven't gotten sick. I wouldn't eat the bars especially if it has fruit

[Tumors]

Along with the protein itself, if you are talking about bars you may have to worry about the chocolate etc. also. You know how chocolate starts to get that white color and goes bad after a long while, would also happen to your protein bars.

[mattman281]

I bought protein powder in jan 2009 it was right before pres Obama was inaugurated. Just started and finished in dec 2012. Both it and I were fine. I will not risk again as I didn't know about fat going rancid. But there you go, if you need proof pm me and I'll show you. Cheers!