Rancid Cookies?

Late last night I started making a batch of cookies to take to a family reunion.  I needed to make a rather large batch since we will be sharing them with all of my side of the family which seems to get bigger by the day.  Anyone else pregnant?  I pulled the butter out of the fridge and went to the pantry for shortening.  I noticed that there was a new container of shortening, so I opened it and could see that a couple of tablespoons had been used by Amy previously.  I proceeded to scoop out spoonfuls of shortening into a measuring cup when I noticed an odd smell.  I leaned closer to the shortening to take a wiff and it just didn't smell right.  I got a teaspoon and took a little taste, but then realized that I didn't know what plain shortening should taste like.  I asked Amy's opinion but she was not much help since she has been struggling with a cold.  She said it smelled like cardboard.  I decided to proceed with the cookies.  I mixed in all the ingredients and was getting ready to chill the dough when I had the thought.  These cookies will be consumed at Bear Lake by my entire family, what would happen if the shortening was rancid, would my entire family get sick?  I debated for a little while whether to cook the dough or to start over.  I really wanted a second opinion on the smell that the shortening was producing, so late at night I marched over to Amy's mother (they live close) to get her expert opinion.  In hand I have the container of shortening and a sample of the dough, which I wanted her to taste.  Once I got to her house, she took a wiff of the shortening and said that it didn't smell right.  She said shortening didn't have a smell.  I didn't dare ask her to taste the dough.  She gave me her shortening so I went home to make another batch of cookies with non smelling shortening.  I am still debating whether to cook up the "rancid" batch.  The Internet says that vegetable shortening cannot go rancid.  Maybe I can take them to work and see who calls in sick the next day.