Food for thought (couldn't resist)-
I take canned soups to the office to have available if I can't get out for lunch, plus for other staff that may have forgotten to bring lunch, low on cash, etc.
I have always tried to be diligent in rotating and using canned food as I buy new, but I apparently missed some canned soups.
Yesterday I made a can of Campbell's Minestrone, and it wasn't until I was cleaning up that I noticed it had "expired" in 2005.
No ill effects. So, out of curiousity, I went on to campbell.com, their FAQ only refers to the date stamp as a "best if used by" date, and says the shelf life of unopened cans is 1-2 years. I'm sure that is just for indemnity reasons.
I noticed no quality issues, in texture or flavor.
Not that I recommend this- just relating the story.