As a shopper, it is easy to get confused between the best before dates and expiration dates.
Expiry dates on food items are a health and safety measure, but they are also the mortal enemy of food waste.
Quite often people think that best before dates and expiration dates are the same thing and end up throwing out food that may still be good. This is an obvious problem as you are creating food waste for no reason.
Next time you are about to throw food in the rubbish bin, you should double-check the date on it first. Food safety experts reveal knowing which foods have expiration dates and what the best before dates are will help you plan your meals.
In addition, you will be able to save some money as you can take advantage of any discounted products and avoid throwing out food that is still good.
Here’s everything you need to know about the best before date versus the expiry date when it comes to food.
Best before
“Best before” refers to the freshness date. It tells you how long the product will be at its best flavour and quality.
Baked goods, cereals, snacks, frozen entrees, and some canned food will have freshness dating.
After the best before date, the food may lose its freshness, aroma, or nutrients. For example, potato chips may lose crispness or canned fruits may lose sweetness. All in all, it is about the taste, not so much the safety.
Expiry date
While a best-before date indicates freshness, the “expiry date” simply tells consumers the last day a product is safe for consumption.
In other words, the best before dates are quality indicators, and expiry dates are cut-off periods. Expiry dates are sometimes interchangeable with “use by” dates, which label highly perishable products, such as seafood and meat.
Sell-by
In addition, “sell-by” tells the store how long it can display the food for sale. It is best, of course, to buy the food before it reaches the sell-by date. Refrigerate once you buy it, or freeze it for longer storage.
Read the latest IOL Food DigiMag here.