“Best before” and “use by” dates on your food

We consume food every day. However our lifestyle rarely permits us to purchase the food we consume on a daily basis. European and national legislation on the food information to be provided to consumers is destined to recognize such, as well as to protect consumers themselves.

We consume food every day. However our lifestyle rarely permits us to purchase the food we consume on a daily basis. European and national legislation on the food information to be provided to consumers is destined to recognize such, as well as to protect consumers themselves. People tend to confuse the difference between ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ date markings, often using them interchangeably and thinking that they mean the same thing. It pays to understand the key differences between these two dates in order to reduce unnecessary food waste, which in turn saves money on your grocery bill.

The European Commission defines the “Best before” marking as indicating the date until when the food retains its expected quality and the “Use By” marking as the date until when the food can be eaten safely. As a rule, food with a “best before” label is still safe to consume after the indicated date, as long as the storage instructions have been followed carefully and no damage has been done to the packaging. “Best before" markings are about retention of quality timelines, after which that product may lose its texture and flavour. It is also important to follow any associated instructions such as “eat within three days of opening”, once a food with a “best before” date on it has been opened.

Any food item which carries a “Use by” date is likely to be highly perishable and may go off after such date. Typical products carrying “use by” markings include fresh fish, fresh meat, dairy products and pre packed salads. For the "use by" date to be valid, it is essential to follow storage instruc- tions such as "keep in a refrigerator". If you fail to do so, the food will spoil more quickly and the risk of food poisoning will increase.

One way of extending the life of food beyond its “use by” date is to freeze it at home soon after purchase. This will extend the lifetime of the food but it will not make it last forever. A handy way of remembering what you froze first is to write the date on a packet in marker before freezing it. Always follow any instructions on the pack, such as “freeze up to the use by date”, “cook from frozen” or “defrost thoroughly before use and use within 24 hours”.

Approximately half of our waste is food-related waste. Whilst some food-related waste such as fruit and vegetable peels and eggshells are unavoidable, a significant quantity may relate to food which has gone past its ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ dates. In the case of the latter, a portion of that waste could have been avoided simply by understanding the implications of these two food markings. Always keep an eye out for these dates to ensure that food is prepared within the indicated dates. Raid your fridge and food cupboards before going shopping to cook a meal with those items closing up on their ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ dates! And, when shopping, make sure that you can prepare the food you are purchasing within the indicated markings. In that way you save waste from being generated and you will save money too.

For more tips on how to reduce food waste visit http://www.dontwastewaste.go v.mt/