Fast advice needed! Used out of date garlic paste

[GoodnightAdeline]

I added some of a tube of garlic paste to our evening meal. It’s been in the fridge, I think I bought it a couple of months ago and have used a few times since then. Just saw best within 21 days - still ok to eat? It’s from Morrisons

Wouldn't worry. At all.

It'll be fine.It is just garlic.

Yes it's likely to be fine. When it goes bad, for me, it is mouldy at the end where it emerges.

I'm sure it's fine. Does it say best before rather than use by?

Google has thrown up loads of stuff about botulism 😱

It will be absolutely fine!
Forget all about it

It'll be fine, if it'd have gone off it'd look weird (brown or something). Even if itd have gone off it won't hurt you tho. 😊

My friend ate old garlic paste and became seriously ill. They were a vampire though, I think you'll be fine.

Is it still within the best before date but has been open for over 21 days?

Blimey, I've had that sort of thing for months in a fridge. It will be fine.

Probably the worst that would happen is that it would be extra pungent...

I use Gia Garlic Puree all the time and keep it open for months with no issue - it says one month

It will be absolutely fine. I've used that when it's been six months past the date and been opened. It's garlic and oil.

Smell it. Garlic smells musty if gone off..youll be fine

Thanks all. Sorry, I became seriously ill with something extremely rare and unlikely a few years ago and I think it’s done something to my perception of risk

UK has an extremely low number of outbreaks of foodborne botulism with only what I remember as 10 reported outbreaks in the UK in recent decades.

So....

Wasn't garlic used as an antiseptic for hundreds of years (and still is in some places)?

I really wouldn't be concerned. It wasn't bue/green with mold.

You’ll be reet

@GoodnightAdeline no need to be sorry. As they say ( at the risk of planting a Wham! related ear worm!) "once bitten twice shy".

I am also firmly in the camp of an airily dismissive wave of the hand and a "you'll be fine" with regards to your garlic paste.

I used to be so scrupulous and fastidious about use by dates and best before dates but these days I see it and sniff it, and if it looks and smells good, I consume it.

Everything we used to keep opened in the fridge for months and months and months now says use within 2 weeks or whatever. I'm sure it's all a ploy to make us buy more.

Also agree with others that you'll be fine :)

Top tip to prevent happening again: once open, squeeze into an ice cube tray and then pop one/two out when needed. I do this with tomato puree too, as would never finish a whole tube in the allotted time.

I use the same tube for months on end. You'll be absolutely fine.

Blimey. Just used some from an open (lid screwed on well) tube in the fridge that was probably opened this time last year!