When grocery shopping, it's one of the final things we'll
check before tossing an item into the cart. The best before date. We all
reference it, and judging by the amount of food we throw out it seems to play a
major role in consumption decisions. However do we really know what best before
date means?
Ask yourself this. Will you buy a yogurt that's near it's
best before date? Do you pour milk down
the sink because the date on the carton has passed and you think it could make
you sick? Best before dates certainly
can be confusing. After all, we've all been told 'when in doubt throw it out,'
right? On average, Canadians throw out 40% of their food, instead of consuming
it. I wonder, how much of this is because of confusion around best before
dates?
Best before date is actually an indicator of quality. It
doesn't refer to the safety of food. Best before dates are how long food will
retain optimum taste, texture, and the nutrients outlined on the label. It doesn't guarantee food is safe before that
date, and it doesn't necessarily mean food is unsafe after that date either.
They are merely suggestions about how long food will taste fresh, and usually
appear on prepackaged foods that keep fresh for 90 days or less.
So what's the difference between this and an expiry date?
Foods with a longer shelf life and that are critical to nutrition have an
expiry. Examples are meal replacements, nutritional supplements, and infant
formulas. Unlike a best before date, these foods should not be consumed after
the date on the label has passed. An expiry shows how long a food will maintain
microbiological and physical stability and safety, as well as the nutrients
listed on the label.
Ever notice that canned items, bottled water, soft drinks,
sometimes have a best before date? Surely these foods could probably last
longer than 90 days. These foods probably don't needs a best before date, but
it doesn't stop manufacturers from adding it anyway. Since there are no
specific criteria to setting these dates, it's caused some people to state that
dates are set deliberately early, so people will toss foods out sooner. Also
another beef for some is the fact that once a product is opened the best before
date no longer applies. This seemed to especially anger a gentleman in the
central portion of our province tried to make a federal case that best before
dates bordered on fraud. Needless to say with it isn't a perfect system, and
with all the public confusion we probably could do a better job, like Britain
in educating people about best before dates.
So what are other countries about best before dates? If
you're a Florida snowbird you'll notice there aren't any dates listed in the
US. Foods aren't required to have 'expired by,' 'use by' or 'best before'
dates. Food rather must be simply wholesome and fit for consumption. However
shouldn't all food be wholesome and fit for consumption? Across the pond,
Britain has established new guidelines around dating to tell people what best
before dates do and don't mean. There too it appears consumers are confused
about dates, partly exemplified by similar consumer perception and large
amounts of food wastage.
Fruit Loop mascot Toucan Sam's famous words, 'follow our
nose,' may apply to food, but certainly not food safety. We really can't use
our noses to determine if something is fit and safe to eat, contrary to what
many of practise and believe. A food can smell or taste fine, but it can still
be unsafe. Bottom line is when a best before date has expired use your judgement, and when an expiration
date has passed throw the food out.
If food has been stored properly since purchase, it can
still be good a few days after the best before date. This is true for milk,
cheese, yogurt and countless other foods.
Once you open a food however, the best before date no longer applies.
Both best before and expiry dates tell you about unopened foods. So how does
one keep food lasting as long as possible? Foods should be refrigerated within
two hours of purchase. Refrigeration can slow down bacteria, but it can't stop
it, especially once it's already started to grow. Some food can be frozen to
keep beyond its best before date too.
For more information on how long to safely keep opened and
unopened foods, visit the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety
Education website: http://www.canfightbac.org/en/_pdf/storage_chart-eng.pdf
As seen in The Telegram April 2, 2012
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