88-Year-Old Embraces Expired Foods in Fridge and Pantry

Nonagenarian says old food has never made her sick

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An 88-year-old New York resident named Ann Cabre says she regularly eats foods well past their expiration dates, including a box of pancake mix from 2017 that she recently made and found to be delicious. Cabre says she keeps ketchup in her closet for one or two years and it's "just fine." She laughs at the idea of worrying about expiration dates, noting that the old food has never made her sick.

Why it matters

Cabre's story highlights how expiration dates are not always an accurate indicator of food safety, especially for those with more experience and less sensitivity to potential foodborne illnesses. Her willingness to consume expired foods challenges common assumptions about food safety and waste.

The details

Cabre says she regularly eats foods well past their expiration dates, including a box of pancake mix from 2017 that she recently made and found to be delicious. She also keeps ketchup in her closet for one or two years and says it's "just fine." Cabre, who is 88 years old, says the old food has never made her sick.

  • Cabre found a box of pancake mix from 2017 recently.
  • Cabre says she keeps ketchup in her closet for one or two years.

The players

Ann Cabre

An 88-year-old resident of New York who regularly eats foods well past their expiration dates.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If you looked in my closet and fridge, you'd find many foods way past their expiration dates. I found a box of pancake mix the other day and made some—they were delicious. It was from 2017.”

— Ann Cabre (Wall Street Journal)

“My ketchup sits in the closet for one or two years; it's just fine.”

— Ann Cabre (Wall Street Journal)

The takeaway

Cabre's story challenges common assumptions about food safety and waste, showing that expiration dates are not always an accurate indicator of whether a food is still safe to consume, especially for those with more experience and less sensitivity to potential foodborne illnesses.