#Myth: Food Past The Best-Before Date is Spoiled

 
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The tragedy of pouring out expired milk...or even worse! Accidentally drinking it. Yikes!

It’s always a bit of a slippery slope when you find yourself opening a carton of milk and noticing that it has passed its best-before date. However, have you ever taken a moment to wonder how much after the said-date does the milk begin to curdle? The day after? Two days later? Three days later? One week later?

In other words, how much longer can food be salvaged before we actually need to throw it out?

Getting rid of food can be both a disappointing feeling and an extremely liberating one. Food goes to waste, the garbage can piles up…but at least you can start anew! 

Certain labels are added as a matter of procedure given that food products are due to follow specific manufacturing guidelines. However, little do we know that sometimes these claims don’t always hold up 100% true to reality ─ so you might still be able to consume it!*

* IMPORTANT: Pregnant women, infants, seniors and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk for foodborne illnesses. These groups should ensure that they are handling food safely.

Here’s what you should know.

1. The Best Before / Use By Date

best before date

The best-before date (in French, “meilleur avant") tells you when the durable life period of a prepackaged food ends. It corresponds to the anticipated amount of time that a properly stored unopened food product will retain its freshness, taste, nutritional value and any other qualities claimed by the manufacturer.

If stored under the right conditions, the best-before date indicates that the unopened product should retain a high quality until the specified date, thereby giving us information about its freshness and potential shelf life. However, it does not guarantee product safety.

2. The Packaging Date

expiration date

The packaged on dates (in French, “emballé le”) are used on retail-packed foods with a durable life date of 90 days or less. They are usually accompanied by information about its durability, which could either be found on the label or on a poster next to the food at the grocery store (e.g. the number of days a product will retain its freshness or a best-before date.).

If stored under the right conditions, the packaged-on date, alongside the best-before date, will help anticipate the amount of time that an unopened food product will retain its quality and freshness. However, this also does not guarantee product safety.

3. The Expiry Date

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Expiration dates are required only on foods that have strict compositional and nutritional specifications that might not be met after the expiration date. In other words, once this date has passed, the food may not have the same nutrient content as claimed the label. This includes…

  • Formulated liquid diets (nutritionally complete diets for people using oral or tube feeding methods);

  • Foods represented for use in a very low-energy diet (foods sold only by a pharmacist and only with a written order from a physician);

  • Meal replacements (formulated food that, by itself, can replace one or more daily meals);

  • Nutritional supplements (food sold or represented as a supplement to a diet that may be inadequate in energy and essential nutrients);

  • Human milk substitutes (infant formula)

→ In general, food should not be bought, sold or eaten if the expiration date has passed.

4. The Foods You Can Save

Expiry dates aside, best before & packaged-on dates indicate the product’s date of “freshness”, but does not mention the amount of time in which you can still consume it! 

Not sure which foods to throw out? Here are tips on how to salvage four of the most commonly thrown out foods.

Honey

honey

Store-bought honey comes with a best before date, but in reality, it doesn’t really spoill!

Storing tips:

  • Avoid placing it in a dark cupboard or pantry;

  • If it crystallizes, place the bottle into a bowl of hot tap water until it becomes clear and golden.

Milk

glass of milk

If stored at a colder temperature (towards the back of the fridge), milk can last up to 2 times longer than the date written on the carton — and even longer still if it’s pasteurized. 

As long as it still smells fresh, it should be safe to consume!

Applesauce

applesauce

Unopened jars of unrefrigerated applesauce can be safely eaten up to 18 months past the best before date. 

Storing tips:

  • Store it in a cool, dark spot in your pantry;

  • If already opened, pop it into an ice cube tray, freeze it and then store it in an airtight container for later use.

Cheese

cheese products grocery store

Hard cheeses such as cheddar and Parmesan are still alright to eat even after mould has started to form.

Safety tips:

  • Cut off any mouldy parts before consuming it. 

  • Generally speaking, hard cheeses are safe to eat for a month past its expiration date

So think twice before discarding certain items in your fridge/pantry! 


#SecondChances

Source(s):  

  • https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Food-safety/Food-Safety-True-or-False.aspx

  • https://inspection.canada.ca/food-label-requirements/labelling/consumers/date-labelling/eng/1332357469487/1332357545633

  • https://www.foodnetwork.ca/kitchen-basics/photos/10-foods-you-can-eat-after-the-expiry-date/

  • https://inspection.canada.ca/food-label-requirements/labelling/industry/eng/1383607266489/1383607344939#

 
Laura Nguyen