We’ve all found ourselves staring at leftovers, wondering, ‘can I still eat this?’
To help clear up the confusion around food labels, let’s look at the difference between Best Before and Use By dates.
According to Consumer NZ, Kiwis throw away over 220,000 tonnes of food each year. Over half of that could still be eaten, with bread and vegetables making up most of the waste, therefore it’s important to know the difference between Best Before and Use By dates.
A Best Before date simply tells you when the product is at its best. You can still eat food after this date if stored properly, it may have lost some flavour or colour but it’s safe to eat.
“Think flavour, texture, and eating quality. The Best Before date is the last day that the product is at its best,” Olivia Martyn, manager at The Food Factory and qualified food technologist, explains.
“After this date, it might not taste or look quite the same, but it could still be safe to eat. For example, those biscuits in your pantry will be absolutely fine after the Best Before date, they might just be a little soft.”
A Use By date, on the other hand, is all about food safety. Found on perishable items like meat and dairy, these dates are there to protect you from foodborne illness. After the Use By date, the food may no longer be safe to eat.
“This is when you really want to toss the item. After this date, the food item is no longer guaranteed to be safe. This is especially important for protecting our health, there is now a true food safety risk,” Olivia says.
In New Zealand, canned foods that have a shelf-life of more than two years do not need a Best Before date. As long as the can remains intact canned foods have a long shelf life, even at room temperature.
“That said, if there are any signs of deterioration, don’t eat the contents. If the can is in good condition with no rust, dents or swelling, it should be safe to eat,” Olivia adds.
Before tossing that holiday chocolate or leftover Christmas fruit mince pies, check the date.
If it’s past the Use By date, it’s time to let it go. But if it’s just past the Best Before date, it is still safe to eat, if you are happy with the quality of the food item.
By understanding food labels and planning meals better, we can eat safely and avoid needlessly throwing things out. Happy (and safe) eating, everyone.
