EPA chief writes memo to employees about 16-year-old soup

Mike Krumboltz
EPA chief writes memo to employees about 16-year-old soup

The government shutdown led to many unintended consequences, but perhaps the most amusing came from the Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA administrator Gina McCarthy sent a welcome-back memo to Midwest employees of the government agency, the Washington Post reports. The memo touched on several topics, including a bit on the importance of a clean fridge.

From the Washington Post:

“During the shutdown, we made every effort to water accessible plants. And of necessity, the refrigerators were emptied of all perishable foodstuffs last week. The oldest food found? A can of Campbell’s soup dated 1997! So, please remember it is everyone’s responsibility to keep the refrigerators clean.”

Lest you think McCarthy was overreacting and that canned soup could survive nuclear winter, the good folks at Campbell's have this to say on the matter.

From Campbell's Soup Company:

The shelf life of unopened Campbell canned products varies from 1 to 2 years. In order to experience optimal color, flavor, aroma and texture the product should be consumed prior to the end of the month and year displayed on the product.

So, yeah. Whoever owned the now-trashed can of soup probably should have consumed it sometime during Clinton's second term. Live and learn.