Quizzes & Puzzles1 min ago
use by dates
When food has a use by date on it does it really matter or can you go a few days over??
Answers
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.It is a safeguard for the shop to put a use by date on that is probably earlier than necessary. A few days often don't matter. Your eyes and nose will tell you!
Similarly, if something is before it's use by date and looks and smells wrong then don't use it. Often supermarket milk lasts a few days past its 'use by' date. I frequently use eggs well past their date. Years ago people kept eggs for months - I am not suggesting that anyone does this.
Apart from eggs, I am a stickler for throwing food away even a day after its use by date. This infuriates my husband who says, 'Look back to years ago when people didn't have fridges, do you remember anyone dying of food poisoning?" I have to admit I don't remember anyone getting it, so I suppose he's right. He says it's just common sense to smell any food before you eat it, whether it be before or after use by date. I suppose I'll have to start thinking this way, especially after reading your similar views.
Personlly I always throw food away on a "use by date" - "Best before" dates are obviously quite different and stuff can be eaten after this date.
Bear in mind that it is illegal for a shop to sell you food after a "use by" date - regulation is here for a reason.
Yes, people years ago pre fridges did eat this food - but years ago the life expectancy was around 50 years old. Also bear in mind that out immune systems are very different now.
It is also differnt for different people. When I was in Thailand a few years ago with my brother, we both got food poisoning - Mine was 14 hours after his though but from the same source. My wife also has a very weak constitution and will get sickness / diarhoe (sp?) very quickly for foods that do not effect me.
Personally, i won't take the risk - but each to their own.
Like Smudge & oneeyedvic I'm probably over-cautious too but I do try not to overstock on fresh/chilled foods. I hope the fox enjoyed his sausage roll a couple of nights ago!
Have to agree with 2nd row though there does seem to be an awful lot of waste & one supermarket in particular seems to have a very short lifespan on their food.
I would just like to point out a couple of things: yes I do have the cash but it hasn't always been that way.
I would say that Marks & Spencer never reduce their goods and sell them to the public unlike most other supermarkets. However, I know that they give this food to homeless charitys (or at least they did 10 years ago). Been there, done that. Had a decent meal thanks to M&S.
I am very cynical by nature, but every now and again, a company does do some good for non-commercial reasons (and it wasn't even free advertising as noone seems to know they do it).
perhaps, like many, my weekly shopping is confined to a supermarket which begings with the letter T..... honestly didn't know about the excellent good work carried out by M/S... I applaud them. and their good work should have been recognised and awarded for, might have shamed these others into doing the same, but as said before, its about profit, perhaps, in their good will and ways, M/S now find themselves, over some time, in trouble, and lacking behind these others ? no one has the right to tell you what to eat, what to buy, and what to throw away etc etc,,, and me, last of all, which is not my intention..... yes, you and i have the cash, but i hate the thought of any food being wasted,,,, so back to Netty.ms Q,,, I say " yes ", you may ,and rightly so, have other ideas,,,,so, having been there, the next time loking through your fridge/freezer or cupboard and you come across something which has passed its date, please dont throw it in your dustbin, perhaps theres a single parent young mum living by, your local vicar would gladly accept whatever, he'll know who to give it to, you may be doing this ? well, i'll thank and salute you too,,,and in your times, you too must have enjoyed a plate of bubble an' squeek..... which is ?
"Best Before" and "Use By" are exactly the same thing. These dates are established by the manufacturers, who are constantly pressured by the retailers to find ways of giving longer and longer shelf life, which reduces the waste levels. The dates are not arbitrary, but tend to err on the side of caution, so don't just accept them. Use common sense. It is a legal requirement to publish a "BB" date, even if one is not required. A good example is tinned, or jarred, food, which will never become contaminated. Normally a 2 year shelf life is provided, although this has no significance.