Can I still eat them ?

[4seasons]

I’ve found several jars of elderberry jelly that I made 8 years ago !! Had totally forgotten I’d made it. Will it be safe to eat ? Thought I might add some to a venison casserole .
At the same time ( in the same cupboard ) I found some jars of Xmas mincemeat ( Delia recipe ) from Xmas 2020. One of them had leaked a bit. Still edible ? I hate wasting things .

Smell it and taste it and use your judgement.

If you boiled to setting point when you made them, and they were fully sealed there should be no problem. If there is fur on the surface I would scoop that off but would have no problem eating the rest of it.

I'd eat some of the elderberry jelly, then wait a while to see what happens ! No point ruining a casserole.
I wouldn't eat anything furry - the spores will be under the surface as well.

@PostMenPatWithACat

Smell it and taste it and use your judgement.

You can't taste, smell or see the toxin that causes botulism. You could end up with worse than a dodgy stomach.

Delia says she keeps her mincemeat for several years. In theory, if they were kept cool, you sterilised everything properly and the jars were airtight and you are as heavy handed as I am with the brandy, they should be fine except the one that leaked. If mincemeat can get out, other things can get in. I would be cautious though that whatever caused one to leak is also an invisible issue with the others.

I don't think I would risk the elderberry jelly after 8 years. Again, in theory, the pH is probably too high for botulism (less acid fruits like tomatoes are the bigger risk). The pH can change over time though. One of the issues with scraping mould off jam, is that the mould will have changed the pH, potentially allowing C. botulinum to grow.

I would always be far more cautious with home made food than something made in a factory as it is so hard to keep things totally sterile in a home kitchen and you probably didn't test the pH