What best before and other shelf-lives actually mean on product labels
'17.04.2021'
Source: Good Housekeeping
Sell by, best before, use by… Many of us are still confused about what these words actually mean on food labels, and whether it is okay to eat those that have expired.
Although attention to the dates indicated is one of the indicators of food safety, things are not so simple. Good Housekeeping... Many people throw away products that are still quite usable because the date on the packaging has already passed. And in vain, because this significantly increases the cost of family meals.
Sell by, best if used by, use by - such markers mean different concepts. Contrary to popular belief, the current expiration date on food products is not designed to help consumers understand when a particular food goes from edible to inedible.
At this time, food companies are not required to use a uniform wording when listing a product's shelf life, which allows them to enter dates that are not actually the product's shelf life.
Consumer confusion
According to research, people throw away about 20% of products still usable due to misunderstanding of the dates indicated on the packaging. The average household in the United States spends $ 275- $ 455 a year on disposing of unused food.
Due to mistaken concern for food safety, 91% of consumers throw away food after the date shown as sell by, but it has nothing to do with the safety of this product in general and is a recommendation for the store.
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37% of consumers discard a product after the date use by, which actually defines the period of the “highest quality” of the product, as the manufacturers explain. In fact, the only information that can be obtained from the date indicated on the packaging concerns how long a particular item has been on the shelf in the store.
What do these mysterious marks on packages mean? Let's try to figure it out.
Use by
Indicates the date after which the product may be unsafe to eat. It is advisable to comply with this restriction, especially with respect to perishable products - fresh meat, dairy products, since a violation can lead to food poisoning. It is important to follow the recommendation, even if the food smells good and looks good. Especially in this case, children, the elderly and pregnant women are at risk.
Some companies do not use research data for their product to determine this date, but an already existing calculator of the shelf life of each product, taking into account its composition. Therefore, the dates indicated on such products may be very approximate and do not mean at all that after their occurrence the product became unsafe.
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Best before
This is not at all the same as the previous mark. Such a mark only indicates the period during which the product retains its optimal taste. As a rule, exceeding this date does not mean that the product becomes dangerous.
For example, if we are talking about canned food, then it may be most delicious before the specified date, but nothing more - the risk of bacterial contamination is usually minimal after its expiration. By consuming such products, you can reduce the amount of food waste and save a lot.
A study of 1500 people found that Americans rely heavily on their senses (smell, taste, and sight) for food choices more often than on these dates.
Display By and Sell By
These markings are unique to sellers, not consumers. This information tells stores how long a product should be on the shelf and can be quite confusing for the shopper. Ignore them.
Important!
Even the most well-calculated dates are only a recommendation anyway.
All of the above is only relevant if you store the food correctly. Even a product that has not expired can become spoiled if it is not in good condition and in poor storage conditions.
Food safety is in the hands of the consumer. They must store it at an appropriate temperature and in a hygienic environment.
If a product has an expiration date on its packaging, consumers should follow that date to determine when to use or freeze it. If it doesn't have a date, common sense is worth using. If the food is moldy or has an unpleasant odor, don't risk it. The best thing in this case is to heed the advice: if the food is in doubt, throw it away.
