>>298145>>298137is pretty much right, but the food can still congeal or spoil in some cases. However, canned food over a hundred years old found in antarctica from previous expeditions have been found to be still fresh when opened. Here are some general opinions."Canned goods, such as ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits and vegetables, are good choices. Foods in glass bottles and jars may break in a disaster. Canned foods can be kept almost indefinitely as long as they are not leaking or bulging. For optimal quality, it is best to replace canned goods every 12 to 18 months. "
"Product Dating: Dates on product packages recommend purchase or "use-by" dates. They are not safety dates. Product dating is voluntary and not required by federal regulations (except for infant formula and some baby foods)."
"Foods packed in oil, or containing large amounts of oils, usually have a 1 or 2 year life expectancy, this has mostly to do with taste, as the oils can go rancid / stale. "
"Many canned products now have a "for best quality use by" date stamped on the top or bottom of the can. "Expiration" dates are rarely found on canned food."
Hormel supposedly said that Spam can last indefinitely but the taste would degrade over time. I don't have a source for this one though aside from a forum comment.
