this may be a really stupid question but....whats difference between...???

raven83

ok this may be a really dumb !!! question but......what is the difference before best before dates and use by dates? its just i am contemplating using one of the discount online shopping stores and just wanted some clarification! thank you guys :beer:

elsien

Use by means that food starts to go off after this date, and you risk poisoning yourself.
Not sure, but I think it may be illegal to sell food after its useby date.

Best before means that it may lose something in the taste or texture, but is still perfectly safe to eat. I have pasta, tinned food etc that's a couple of years past its best before date and still going strong.

raven83

elsien wrote: »

Use by means that food starts to go off after this date, and you risk poisoning yourself.
Not sure, but I think it may be illegal to sell food after its useby date.

Best before means that it may lose something in the taste or texture, but is still perfectly safe to eat. I have pasta, tinned food etc that's a couple of years past its best before date and still going strong.

wow i never knew how many people use food past the best before dates! so how can you find out the use by dates then?

elsien

Tinned and packet stuff is processed so doesn't have a use by date, just the best before.
Use by is more for perishables that will go off - dairy produce, eggs, meat and fish, that sort of thing. You don't get use by and best before on the same products, I don't think.

How long you keep stuff past its best before date is just down to personal preference. The record in our family is my mother and a 10 year old jar of herbs - not sure how much taste there was left in them, mind.

raven83

what about things like mayo and salad cream etc?

elsien

If it's processed and there's a best before date, it'll be fine until it's opened, then the usual rules apply.
I don't eat them, so I don't know how long they last after opening, but if it's like ketchup mine stays in the fridge for months. (Or until it starts growing stuff, whichever comes first!)
You only need to be wary about mayo if it's fresh (from the fridge section) or homemade using normal eggs. The stuff you buy off the shelf comes in the same category as sauces and packet stuff.

You might find this site useful
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/food-labelling-terms.aspx

steff1989

Best before is a quality mark, they are still ok to eat after the date, the quality will just go down with the exception of eggs
Use by is on high risk food and can't be eaten after that date, even if it looks and smell fine

Just have a look carefully at the date label on the packaging to see if its best before or use by

browneyedbazzi

elsien wrote: »

Use by means that food starts to go off after this date, and you risk poisoning yourself.
Not sure, but I think it may be illegal to sell food after its useby date.

Best before means that it may lose something in the taste or texture, but is still perfectly safe to eat. I have pasta, tinned food etc that's a couple of years past its best before date and still going strong.

Yes, it is illegal to sell or display for sale foods that are past their use by date. With eggs it is illegal to sell them after the 'sell by' or 'display until' date.

Best before simply means that the item is at its best before that date (it's in the name!) and the quality of the product may change after that date (often it is a change in texture or colour). Items with a best before are not perishable and eating them past the date will not cause you any harm.

Middy

Generally - food that is chilled or fruit/veg have use by dates. Frozen, tinned and packet stuff has best before dates.

Some veg can keep for ages - such as onions and potatoes. A bag of new potatoes lasts me a month.

LilahDavies

Does no-one eat food which is past it's "use-by" date then?

lindens

LilahDavies wrote: »

Does no-one eat food which is past it's "use-by" date then?

God yes all the time! it doesnt automatically go bad at midnight you know!
I just use my nose and common sense - never failed me yet!