VICTORIA – Many consumers pay attention to the “best before” and “expiry” dates on the food they buy, but do they know what they mean?
“I think most consumers aren’t aware of the differences between the terms,” said Kevin Allen, assistant professor of food microbiology at the University of British Columbia.
The “best before” date appears on pre-packaged food that will keep fresh for 90 days or less, such as eggs, milk and meat. It applies only to unopened products.
Read Also
Half million acres of Alberta crops affected by massive hail storm
Late August hail storm catches farmers in prime harvest mode, damaging half million acres of crops in Alberta.
Food can be bought and eaten after the “best before” date has passed, but the food may lose freshness, flavour and nutritional value or its texture may change.
Expiry dates must appear on special liquid diets, meal replacements and infant formulas. The food should not be eaten after the expiry date because the food may not have the same nutrient content.
Some believe there’s leeway with the dates, but Allen takes a harder line.
“In general, I abide by the ‘best before’ dates and expiry dates,” said the father of two young children.
Consuming food beyond those dates means it may not be as safe or nutritious as it was before the dates, which Allen said is especially important for seriously ill people or those receiving treatments such as chemotherapy.
However, he said food may not be safe to consume even with a “best before” date.
“The food is guaranteed to be fresh, but that does not guarantee that it’s free of pathogens.”
Manufacturers test their products and follow standard safety procedures, but a lot can happen in the factory, after it leaves the factory and when it’s served in the home.
“One big issue is that retail fridges and consumers’ fridges are not always at 4 C,” Allen said of the temperature necessary to keep food safe.
Poultry is a particular problem, even with “best before” packaging.
Allen said 30 percent of poultry meat contains salmonella and 60 percent has campylobacter. Both cause diarrhea, cramps and fever, which are sometimes chalked up to the flu instead of food poisoning.
UBC nutritional sciences professor Gwen Chapman said there is a bit of wiggle room when it comes to cream and yogurt that has passed “best before” dates.
“It’s a quality issue, as much as anything,” Chapman said. “Food can deteriorate, but some things can last a long time past the date.”
