Sell by dates, best before dates on food.

[lucy7]

Latest topic on the news this morning.

The government are trying to encourage us to cut down on food wastage.

My best way of disposing of food still in my fridge is to give it to my husband!

Seriously, I eat stuff that is way past its dates, I give it a sniff, if it doesnt make me faint, I eat it!

[Delta Whiskey]

The sell before dates are very conservative to prevent legal action being taken against the manufacturer. To me, the longer the sell by date the less likely I am to buy it given the amount of preservatives the product must contain. As Michael Pollan says in his book 'In Defense of Food' - Eat food, not to much, mainly plants.

[heero_yuy]

Best before dates generally are for foods that spoil (usually the texture) but don't become dangerous. The important date is "use by" but even that depends upon the type of food. Dried goods I've found can be kept for ages so long as they are kept dry, same for frozen stuff: I remember clearing out the freezer and finding some fish fingers that were several years out of date but apart from being slightly dry were fine. The only exception here is pork where the fat will taint badly after only a few months, not dangerous, just nasty.

If I have pershable stuff that's approaching "use by" I freeze it if possible or cook it and then freeze.

[LondonRoad]

I never trust the best before dates on beer cans and bottles and always consume well in advance of the date.

Sometimes I've had to finish a whole case of beer because the BB date is less than 3 months away.

Even then I've noticed some side effects the next morning. Think how worse it would be if I left them any longer.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by harmitage

I never trust the best before dates on beer cans and bottles and always consume well in advance of the date.

Sometimes I've had to finish a whole case of beer because the BB date is less than 3 months away.

Even then I've noticed some side effects the next morning. Think how worse it would be if I left them any longer.

I cannot fathom out why you would want to finish all that beer in such a short time

[Chris]

Originally Posted by lucy7

Seriously, I eat stuff that is way past its dates, I give it a sniff, if it doesnt make me faint, I eat it!

It took almost 10 years of marriage to educate my missus in the ways of the sell-by date (i.e. trust your nose and your tongue!) But we got there in the end. Yogurt, in particular, keeps a lot longer than the date on the pot suggests.

[Taf]

"Use By" is the only one I generally adhere to.... unless it's on cheese which "they" say gets better with age....

[lauzjp]

Working in a newsagents and a supermarket I try to encourage people who wrinkle their noses up at 'out of date' stuff to at least give it a go once.

There's a website called 'approved food' where you can buy stuff at low prices that is sometimes considerably past its best before date!

[Woolly One]

Originally Posted by lauzjp

There's a website called 'approved food' where you can buy stuff at low prices that is sometimes considerably past its best before date!

Here's the linky for you

http://www.approvedfood.co.uk/

[Pia]

I eat bread unless it's green, maybe toast it if it's gone hard

I don't like to eat eggs too far past their date as i never know what's gonna happen when i crack it open... I'd probably use them 3 or 4 days over the date though.

I've used jars and tins of stuff that's about 6m - 1 yr after their date I always use condiments and jar sauces after the date (once opened use within 2 weeks/28 days) i've had a bottle of mustard in the fridge for months and months which says this.

I think i've got a pot of black peppercorns that are about 5 years out of date

[Woolly One]

This one sounds good -

http://www.approvedfood.co.uk/squid-...ner-3226-p.asp

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by lucy7

Latest topic on the news this morning.

The government are trying to encourage us to cut down on food wastage.

My best way of disposing of food still in my fridge is to give it to my husband!

Seriously, I eat stuff that is way past its dates, I give it a sniff, if it doesnt make me faint, I eat it!

I hate seeing food go to waste, especially when it's things I've bought on the BOGOF or 2 for reduced price offers. I use the same "If it doesn't look or smell bad, i'll eat it" criteria for nearly everything apart from milk. I can't stand the smell of milk that's gone off, it will make me gag straight away. So with that if its 3 or so days past the sell by date it's going in the sink.

[superbiatch]

I've just had year old picalilli on my ham sandwich which should have been eaten within 6 weeks - how long do I have left?

[Saaf_laandon_mo]

Originally Posted by superbiatch

I've just had year old picalilli on my ham sandwich which should have been eaten within 6 weeks - how long to I have left?

I'm eating an out of date pot noodle as we speak..... I can't tell the difference.

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by Saaf_laandon_mo

I'm eating an out of date pot noodle as we speak..... I can't tell the difference.

I don't think I could with pot-noodle