It is common knowledge that every food product has a specific shelf life. Most often, it is a contractual date by which a given product must be consumed. This information is usually found on the packaging. This date, of course, depends on the type of food, because highly processed food will not spoil the next day. Same as pasta, flour, etc.
Many people, when a product exceeds the agreed date on the packaging, throw it into the trash. Why is it a mistake – and above all – a waste of food? Well, it results from ignorance of the terms used. “Use by…” directly concerns the safety of the food consumed. This is a recommendation to the buyer about the time period in which a given product is safe to consume and in what time period it is not. And this date should be adhered to. Products marked “Use by…” most often include fresh products and those that spoil quickly and easily. These include, for example: dairy products, meat, fish, delicatessen products, unpasteurized juices and dairy products.
In turn, “Best before…” or “Best before the end of…” simply means “it’s worth it”. And it refers to the quality of a given product. So if we follow the prescribed rules for storing it, then – even if it has passed the “magic” date – it is still edible! However, this idea should be developed a bit. This term specifies a date minimum durability of a given food product. After this date, the product does not spoil. Its color, taste, smell or consistency may change, but this does not mean that it can be thrown away immediately. This inscription can be seen on the packaging of groats, pasta, rice, coffee, tea, loose sugar, table salt, some spices and sweets.
However, it is worth remembering that there are certain limits. There are no products that are completely expired, and as we read on the website gotujsienałamy.pl, each of them will eventually cease to be suitable for consumption. If, for example, mold appears on a highly processed product, it is obviously unsuitable to eat.
Expiry date on products. What does it really mean?
Even if we understand both concepts and follow the rules for storing food, it may still happen that we will have large stocks of food that we will not be able to eat. Some people just throw them in the trash. But this is not the way: Inflation is progressing at a dizzying pace, making even these basic food products more expensive and more and more people simply cannot afford them. So we shouldn’t waste food this way.
Therefore, it is best to leave any unused but still edible products at points located on the map of each city. These are city soup kitchens for people in crisis of homelessness and people in need. In some cities there are special refrigerators where we can leave food and a person in need can use it.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
