"octopodes" news and stories

I was cleaning out my pantry a few days ago in preparation for the holidays and ran across some octopuses in a bag. I have all kinds of strange stuff in my pantry and this isn't the most odd. It's a 6"x6"x1/2" mylar retort bag stuffed full of 5.2 oz of sauteed baby octopi. Yes, these are cooked, not frozen octopi. I don't remember buying these so they must have been hidden in the back of the pantry for eons, although the name of the store, Kam Sen, is on the package. So at least I know where I bought them. So is the price, $1.39, not a bad deal. I palpate the bag and inside I can feel each individual octopus. Firm small things about the size of gummy bears, and with just a tad more solid a feel to them. I was about to open the package to try them, but first I read the info and preparation instructions. The first thing that concerns me is that the manufacture and expiration dates are blank. These octopodes could have expired, in one way or another, many years ago. Are they safe? Will my name suddenly drop off the Slashfood Bloggers list, because I myself expire from botulism? A shiver runs down my spine and my stomach clenches into a nice little knot.