Understanding Food Labels: Best Before vs. Expiry Dates

When it comes to buying food, understanding food labels is crucial for quality and your safety. Along with the date and storage conditions, the name of the food, list of ingredients, weight or volume, preparation instructions, place of origin, lot or batch number and additional information should be included on the label. This helps customers to make informed decisions about the nutritional content, quality, and safety of the products they purchase. Now, let’s dive into the difference between “best before” and “expiry dates” to make smarter choices and reduce food waste.

Understanding ‘Best Before’ Dates: What You Need to Know

The “best before” date focuses on the quality of the product rather than its safety. It tells you until when the food is expected to remain at its best in terms of freshness, flavor, texture, and nutritional value.

Even after the “best before” date, most foods are still safe to eat if they’ve been stored properly. For example, items like canned goods, dried pasta, or crackers can be consumed after this date, although they might not taste as good. Trust your senses—check for unusual smells, odd textures, or changes in appearance. If everything seems normal, the food is likely fine to eat.

Understanding the Expiry Date

The “expiry date” is a hard deadline for food safety and understanding it can help you avoid potential health risks. Unlike “best before” dates, which focus on quality, an expiry date specifically shows how long food remains safe to consume. Once a product passes its expiry date, it’s no longer safe to consume. This label is typically found on highly perishable items like baby formula, some dairy products, medications, and certain meats.

Proper storage can help keep food safe up to its expiry date. Remember, it’s crucial to never consume foods that have passed their expiry date, especially vulnerable groups like young children, pregnant women, and the elderly.

What’s the Big Difference?

The key difference lies in quality versus safety. While the “best before” date focuses on how long food will maintain its best quality, the “expiry date” tells you how long food is safe to eat.

‘Best before’ dates and ‘expiry dates’ are regulated differently across regions. Labelling rules and these time periods vary by country, so businesses must check local regulations to ensure proper compliance.

It is the responsibility of consumers to understand food packaging labels and act accordingly to the dates. While best before dates depend on quality, expiry dates indicate possible health risks and should be taken seriously.

Reducing Food Waste with Label Awareness

Understanding food labels can help reduce unnecessary food waste. By paying closer attention to these dates, you can save money and avoid wasting perfectly edible products.

Here are some tips for reducing food waste:

Understanding date labels: Read and understand the date labels. Buy only food items with legible date labels.

Plan your purchases: Buy what you can realistically consume before the expiry date, especially perishable items.

Use a “first in, first out” system: Rotate items in your pantry or fridge so the older products are used first.

Store food properly: Keep foods in the right conditions (sealed, refrigerated, or frozen) to extend their quality.

What Should You Do with Expired Food?

When dealing with expired food, it’s important to remember the difference between “expired” and “best before.” Check the food packaging labels and determine whether the date is expired or best before.

For unopened, non-perishable items like canned goods that are past their “best before” date but still look fine, consider donating them to food banks. For items past their expiry date, it’s important to dispose of them responsibly. Composting is a great way to dispose biodegradable items safely. Certain expired foods, such as meat, dairy, eggs, and seafood, should not be consumed past their “use by” dates, as they can cause foodborne illnesses.

Once food has expired, disposal is the only safe option. But you can reduce the need to throw away expired food in certain ways. Plan your meals carefully to avoid overbuying perishable food items. Remember to store food properly to extend its shelf life. Store food in the freezer while it’s still fresh and safe to eat, to prevent spoilage and extend its shelf life for future use.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between “best before” and “expiry dates” can help you make better decisions about your food. “Best before” dates focus on the quality of the food, allowing for safe consumption beyond the date under proper storage conditions. “Expiry” or “use by” dates are tied to safety and should not be ignored, especially for perishable items. By being mindful of these dates and understanding what they mean, you’ll not only protect your health but also contribute to a more sustainable world. Taking food safety courses in the UAE equips you with the knowledge to handle, store, and prepare food properly.