What you need to know about product expiration dates

Consumers often identify the labels on packaged food - "best before" and "use by", and it is precisely the distinction between these terms that is important for maintaining health and preventing unnecessary food waste. In addition, they save money.

Checking the "best before" and "use by" labels on food packaging is one of the first things consumers should do when shopping. It is common practice for supermarkets to discount certain food items that are close to their expiry date, so when shopping special attention should be paid to these products, in order to avoid buying food that may not be used until the expiration date, which poses a health risk.

With the "best before" label, manufacturers mark the date until which the food maintains the expected quality, but after which it is still safe to use, if the storage instructions are followed and if the packaging is not damaged. This term refers to the deadline by which a certain food product should be used. After the expiration of the specified period, the food loses its texture, that is, it may start to lose its taste. The most common foods marked with this term are chilled, frozen, dried products (pasta, rice...), as well as canned and other foods (edible oil, chocolates...)

The term "use by" means the date until which the food can be used safely. These are usually foods that are quickly perishable from a microbiological point of view and that after a short period of time can pose an immediate danger to human health. Food should not be consumed after the expiration date. This is a label for frozen meat, frozen meat products and frozen unprocessed fish products.