Hand feeding formula best by date?

[Tiffany]

Hi, I have some Kaytee Exact hand feeding formula. I didn't think to check the best by date before I bought it and I got it from a pet shop in a Flea market. I checked a little bit ago and the best by date is January 18 2012. Could I still use it? Thank you in advance.

[nixity]

Has it been kept at room temperature the whole time? If so, I would probably toss it

If you keep it in the freezer or refrigerator you can extend the life for about 6 months (fridge) to a year (freezer).

But I wouldn't trust it almost 8 months past expiration at room temp.

[Sally]

I agree, and if you recently bought it, that means the pet shop had it sitting on the shelf past its expiration date. I keep handfeeding formula (and many other items) in the freezer, and then when I need some, I transfer a smaller amount to a container in the fridge. The trouble with some of these fleamarket-type pet shops is that they may buy up clearance items at a big-box pet shop for resale, and the reason the items were clearanced was because they were nearing their expiration date.

[Tiffany]

Yeah I got it yesterday. Next time I get some I'm checking the date.

[nixity]

If you bought it yesterday and you have the receipt, I say return it.
They shouldn't have their shelves stocked with expired product. You'll be able to get your money back or perhaps exchange it for an item that isn't expired!

[Tiffany]

I'm going to try to return it this coming weekend. Thank you.

[waxbill lover]

Tiffany

I used some expired handfeeding Lafeber handfeeding formula that was expired by a month...however I bought it last year, and it had been kept in my cold pantry for that length of time. My zebra chicks did very well on it.

I'd probably get some new stuff though...

[Tiffany]

I picked up some this afternoon and checked the date before I bought it.