We’ve all been there. You buy something, forget about it and then find it in the back of the fridge. A glance at the packaging tells you that it’s past its used by date. You think it needs to go straight to the bin. Not always. Expiration dates are generally a guideline, and not all of them are accurate. We’re going to dispel some of the most common myths about food expiration dates.
A third of the food we purchase goes to waste. Unnecessary food waste is primarily due to expiration dates, but also when we prepare too much food. Sometimes, our eyes are bigger than our stomach.
It is important to remember that an expiration date is usually a ‘best before’ date. Your food won’t suddenly expire at midnight on the date on the label. The expiration date is a guideline of when the food will be at its freshest. Food that isn’t refrigerated can stay fresh well beyond its expiration date. For examples, it’s still safe to eat eggs three or four weeks after you purchase them. 720m eggs are thrown out every year due to confusion around their expiration dates.
What are expiration dates?
- ‘Use by’ : focuses on the safety of the food and should be followed
- ‘Best by’ : this is a guideline for consumers to indicate the freshness of the food and does not relate to safety
- ‘Sell by’ : helps retailers and shops stock their products and allow them to pack their shelves with the freshest products at the back
The confusion between ‘use by’ and ‘sell by’ dates, as well as other variants, leads to unnecessary food waste. There are no standard international guidelines for expiration dates. The information you might find on a US website, may not apply in the UK and vice versa.
best by
The ‘best by’ expiration date is for food with a longer shelf-life, such as frozen and tinned foods. It’s perfectly safe to eat in the days, and sometimes weeks, after the expiration dates. It may not taste as good as it would have, but it will be safe. There are tell-tale signs of when food has gone off. The smell is usually a good indicator. In these scenarios, you’ll usually be able to tell straight away when the food has gone off. The best way to extend the life of your ‘best by’ products is to store it properly. Check the label on your food to see the suggested storing conditions.
use by
In the UK, a ‘use by’ date is a regulation involving food safety. If the product has a ‘use by’ date, then it’s there for a safety reason. Meat products are one type of food that you will want to stick to the use by date to prevent any contamination.
Are food expiration dates accurate? The answer is that sometimes they are. If it’s not a ‘use by’ expiration date, then you are usually perfectly able to eat it after the displayed date. Save yourself some pennies, prevent waste and learn how to deal if food is still fresh.
