Packaged food items usually come with ‘best before’ and ‘expiry’ dates on the label. In most cases, food items that have passed their ‘best before’ date are thrown away. Of course, food items that have passed their expiry date are thrown in the dustbin. Ever wondered about the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘expiry’ dates? While ‘best before’ indicates that the quality, taste or crispness of the food may not be the same after the stipulated date, the expiry date indicates that the food is no longer safe to use. (Also read: Label claims on packaged food may be misleading: ICMR)
When it comes to buying and using packaged foods, it is most important to read labels to find out what kind of ingredients they contain and whether they are safe to use after a certain date. Some foods are more prone to bacterial growth after a period of time and expiration dates help people understand when they are no longer safe to use.
best before date
According to a video posted by FSSAI on X, “While buying food products, always check the manufacturing date, use-by date and expiry date. The manufacturing date tells you the date of manufacturing and packaging. While the use-by date tells you the date till which the food is in a fit-to-eat condition.”
This means that if a packaged food is packed on 10 April 2024 and its best before date is 3 months, then this food should be used by 10 July 2024, to ensure that its quality, taste and nutrients remain the same. However, this food may still be safe to eat even after the best before date.
According to FSSAI, “A food product may lose its taste, freshness, aroma or nutrients after the expiry date. This does not necessarily mean that the food is no longer safe to eat.”
end date
The expiry date on the other hand indicates the date after which the food is unsafe to eat. Although the food can still be eaten after the expiry date, it may have adverse effects on your health after the expiry date.
FSSAI said, “If the expiry date is June 30, 2020, then the food is unsafe to use after this date and may be harmful to your health.” He added, “Never consume food that has passed its expiry date, as it may be unsafe to eat and may pose a threat to health.
