January 30, 2020/
By sweetbrands
- 0
The shelf-life of food products is dependent on the interactive effects of intrinsic parameters (e.g. pH, water activity and preservatives) and extrinsic parameters (e.g. storage temperature, humidity level and gaseous environment), as well as the raw material quality and sanitary conditions applied during manufacturing.
When all these factors are controlled by the manufacturer, the consumer is left with two labels to consider;
- Best before
- Expiry date date sometimes known as Use by or sell by
What do they mean?
Best Before dates are about Quality
The best before date, sometimes shown as BBE (best before end), is about quality and not safety. The food will be safe to eat after this date but may not be at its best. It’s flavour and texture might not be as good. Best before dates may appear on a wide range of foods including:
- frozen foods
- dried foods
- tinned foods
Also note that the best before date will only be accurate if the food is stored according to the instructions on the packaging.
Expiry/ Use by/ Sell by Dates are about Safety
A use by date on food is about safety. This is the most important date to remember. Foods can be eaten until the use by date but not after. You will see use by dates on food that goes off quickly, such as meat products or ready-to-eat salads.
For the use by date to be a valid guide, you must carefully follow storage instructions. For example, if the instructions on the packaging tell you to refrigerate after opening, you should keep the food in a fridge at 5°C or below.
After the use by date, don’t eat it, cook it or freeze it. The food could be unsafe to eat or drink, even if it has been stored correctly and looks and smells fine.
Consume safely, throw away foods whose expiry date is or past due to avoid food poisoning.
