Is brown sugar still edible after being stored for three years?

Brown sugar is a type of raw sugar made from sugarcane juice through extraction, clarification, boiling, and refining using the lime process. Due to its primary components of sucrose, vitamin B, and inorganic iron salt, as well as containing vitamins and various trace elements and other nutrients, if it has been stored for too long and forms lumps, it indicates that its composition has changed and its efficacy may have disappeared, making it generally unsuitable for consumption. Brown sugar contains a large amount of sucrose, water, and impurities, and is susceptible to contamination by lactic acid bacteria. Under specific temperature conditions, if the container is not tightly sealed or allows water infiltration, lactic acid bacteria will proliferate rapidly. The sucrose in the brown sugar will gradually decompose into glucose and lactose, which are then converted into other organic acids, leading to deterioration of the brown sugar. Consuming such brown sugar may cause gastrointestinal discomfort such as abdominal pain and diarrhea. Therefore, for the sake of food nutrition and safety, it is not recommended to consume brown sugar that has been stored for three years. Properly sealed brown sugar can generally only be stored for one year. If stored for too long, it may adversely affect human health and is unsuitable for consumption. Additionally, it is not advisable to store any food for extended periods. It is important to consume food within its shelf life to avoid wastage once it expires.