“Best-before” and “use-by” labels are familiar terms for British shoppers, but do they understand the difference or is more food thrown out because of mixing up these labels? According to the Food Standard Agency the “best-before” label tells about quality, where as “use-by” labels are applied to food that perish quickly. Consuming products after “use-by” dates may put health at risk. The FSA states that even after “best-before” dates food is still safe, providing that it is stored correctly, but might lose flavour. Now the government is thinking about simplifying food labelling. Will this end unnecessary binning of food?
Personal comment: For starters, today’s food is packed with labels, so simplifying is no luxury. And a better distinction between ‘still safe, but maybe less tasty’ and ‘do not eat after’ is a good thing. I am not very strict about such dates and labels. If a product can be kept for three months, then a few weeks past the date can not hurt you. I can see how confusing these labels can lead to a waste of good food. Labels are mostly an indication when to use it, but using your nose, mouth, and common sense also helps to determine if products are off or stale. I think one should not rely on labels only.
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