Expiration Dates

Expiration dates are good because it tells us how long something is good for, right?

Last night I bought this mini lemon bundt cake. Real cute and not too bad (will always take homemade over store bought) tasting. I looked at the expiration date and it was dated 2-3 weeks out. Okay, so then I wonder, something that requires no refrigeration or does not need to be frozen, but can be left out -- and doesn't expire for 2-3 weeks -- what kind of ingredients are in this cake?

Then it got my mind going -- food like that probably has tons of preservatives and all kinds of stuff to make it last. I wonder what it does on the inside. I know, I think too much! LOL. But really, think about it?