Would you drink soda that was more than two and half years past its expiration date? Student Kyla Crooms recently did just that. She bought a Mountain Dew from the vending machine in the Communications Center, noticed that it tasted “funny,” and then checked the expiration date: October 17, 2016.
“That’s disgusting,” Central State student Jwan Seay said. “That is why I don’t use those machines.”
This reporter decided to investigate, and purchased two sodas the next day from the same vending machine, one Pepsi and one Mountain Dew. Both sodas had the same expiration date: October 17, 2016.
Vending machines in the Communications Center are maintained by Pepsi Equipment Services. Dr. Robert Franklin, building manager in the Communication Center, reported that Central State has called Pepsi Equipment Services in the past to replace expired soda. The Gold Torch left messages on Pepsi’s customer service answering machine but did not receive a response.
Studies suggest that expired soda will not harm you. The New York Times reported in March of 2002 that, “Soda can be old enough to grow mold without causing any acute illnesses. But soda past its expiration date goes flat and loses much of its taste.”
The vending machines are stocked with old soda, in part, because few students seem to be using the machine. Many students say that they walk to the Speedway gas station near campus to buy soda. The Communications Center once had a candy machine and a gumball machine, but they were removed due to low sales.
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