Is this safe to drink? A food-science question - 15 years after pasteurization (Aug/27/2008 )
Hello, I have a rather strange question. I do not have a very good background in microbiology, as I am a chemical engineering student.
There is a container of juice which is sealed and expired in 1994. This product is no longer made and I want to give it a taste... I might not even swallow any. Would I be putting myself in any serious danger by doing this?
I realize this sounds odd, but I can explain. When I was a kid, I liked the ghostbusters. There was a drink made by Hi-C called "Ecto Cooler." Many of the other children at my school brought it to lunch every day. My brother and I asked my mom for it at the grocery store and she told us no... The stuff was orange flavored and dyed green. She was adamant that she wouldn't buy it for us. When my brother told the other kids at school about it, they began to mock us and always told us how great Ecto Cooler is. I asked my mom again, and I remember her telling me that when I am old enough and have a job, I can buy it for myself, but until then, I can't have any.
About 2 or 3 years ago, one of the kids I went to school with asked me if I ever got to try ecto cooler. I still hadn't. I went to the store to buy some, and to my horror, they did not have it. Some research on yahoo allowed me to find out that it had not been made since 2002. For some reason this really bugged me.
I was on an auction site earlier today and found a single juice box going for about 20 dollars. I contacted the seller, and he says it is still sealed and has never been punctured. It expired in 1994. I want to buy it just to taste the stuff.
I realize that it is very likely that it has spoiled by now. I'm guessing that such a sugary drink may simply ferment into alcohol... maybe it would be vinegary? What do you think the chances are that a 15 year-old juice box would be palatable?
Also, is the worst thing that could happen to me if I drank it? Is the expiration date there just because it might taste bad after sitting for too long? Or is it there for my safety?
Thank you in advance for your insight.
There is a container of juice which is sealed and expired in 1994. This product is no longer made and I want to give it a taste... I might not even swallow any. Would I be putting myself in any serious danger by doing this?
I realize this sounds odd, but I can explain. When I was a kid, I liked the ghostbusters. There was a drink made by Hi-C called "Ecto Cooler." Many of the other children at my school brought it to lunch every day. My brother and I asked my mom for it at the grocery store and she told us no... The stuff was orange flavored and dyed green. She was adamant that she wouldn't buy it for us. When my brother told the other kids at school about it, they began to mock us and always told us how great Ecto Cooler is. I asked my mom again, and I remember her telling me that when I am old enough and have a job, I can buy it for myself, but until then, I can't have any.
About 2 or 3 years ago, one of the kids I went to school with asked me if I ever got to try ecto cooler. I still hadn't. I went to the store to buy some, and to my horror, they did not have it. Some research on yahoo allowed me to find out that it had not been made since 2002. For some reason this really bugged me.
I was on an auction site earlier today and found a single juice box going for about 20 dollars. I contacted the seller, and he says it is still sealed and has never been punctured. It expired in 1994. I want to buy it just to taste the stuff.
I realize that it is very likely that it has spoiled by now. I'm guessing that such a sugary drink may simply ferment into alcohol... maybe it would be vinegary? What do you think the chances are that a 15 year-old juice box would be palatable?
Also, is the worst thing that could happen to me if I drank it? Is the expiration date there just because it might taste bad after sitting for too long? Or is it there for my safety?
Thank you in advance for your insight.
If there was any fermentation of the sugars, there would also be the production of CO2. If the box has not exploded, or even blown out of shape, it's unlikely that there is any alcohol. Also, because of the high sugar content (I'm guessing), there won't be anything living in it, so to that extent, it should be safe (or at least, it shouldn't be toxic).
Next, it's quite likely that there has been some oxidation. Despite being a sealed plastic container, there will be some gas transfer, which might explain the expiry date. If you have had oxidation, as a chem student, what oxidation products do you imagine might be in the "drink"?
It's 14 years past its expiry date. It isn't going to taste very nice, I'm guessing. But I doubt it will kill you (don't blame me, however if it does!), but you're not going to get the full flavour experience.
I'd be tempted to contact Hi-C and ask how much they'd be prepared to pay for an unopened box of the stuff. It could be more than the $20 you're thinking of forking out!
a juice box 
out of cardboard?
im surprised it didnt dissolve already
i wouldnt go by the expiration date. they are mostly set for legal reasons instead of scientific ones.
what i would do:
open the box and listen. can you hear gas streaming out? what does it smell like?
if your drink is already spoiled you should smell it.
then pour it into a glass (is it one of these juiceboxes that are supposed to be drunk with a straw? please dont do that) and look if there are any suspicious particles.
if you only want to taste it it should be harmless but be prepared for the worst.
Mmmm, sounds like childhood dream.
I would vote against drinking that drink though I am not sure what the drink is nor do I know what effects time has on the said drink.
Why not drink that?
1. Your mother said so. She said it was bad means it still is bad.
2. It has expired. Exipry date may just be for legal reasons but still it is something the company has put for some reason. Expired food should be disposed. Aren't there any regulation against selling-buying expired food? There should be food/health inspectors watching for these, right?
3. The drink is not good. People said to U they are good because they want to show they are 'cool' and that was the only was popular. The company knew it and so they linked with the movie for profit. It is just ''marketing''. There is nothing great about it. If it were good, they would have continued the drink even after the movie had stopped. They did continue with another name but again stopped it.(source: wikipedia) Why they had to stop if the drink was good? Other companies would have bought the formula. (just imagine if Coke decides to stop - its good - people like it - there will be someone esle making it if Coca cola does not)
4. Searched PubMed for effects/risks of drinking/eating drink/food after expiry date - did not find anything on it because it would be ridiculous for some researcher to research on something totally ridiculous. FOr me to be convinced, there should be some RCTs or metaanalysis.
5. Do not drink it because your mother won't be happy about it. Your mother said you may 'buy' the drink. She did not say you may 'drink' it. Fan of it and your dream then spend 20USD and get it as a collection not for drinking. It will be symbolic and be with U always. Like. . . see this The Royal Wedding Cake - some day U might make a news. If it were not your dream, I would not spend 20USD on something that I cannot drink. Buy a Japanese O-sake with the money and drink for your health. I recommend Umeshyu or Awamori or any Imozake.
As everyone stated here: you won't die if you taste it, but it will taste like crap for sure.
I am pretty sure your classmates told you it was very good because:
1. You haven't had a sip of it
2. When you are a kid, a lot of weird stuff "tastes great" (I remember being an avid fan of drinking water with sugar and eating a slice of bread with mayo and ketchup 
) It was like a taste of heaven back then... now I prefer more sophisticated things now -like hot dogs and pizza 
)